The government may reconsider its decision to reopen educational institutions if the prevailing upward trend of Covid-19 infection continues, said Education Minister Dipu Moni.
“We’re monitoring the Covid-19 situation every day. We prioritize the health issues of students, teachers, employees, and guardians the most.
“If the mounting infection rate of the virus continues, we will reconsider our decision [to reopen] in consultation with the National Advisory Committee [on Covid-19],” she said.
The minister was talking to reporters after a program at the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka on Friday afternoon.
Her comments came when the country’s daily caseload crossed the grim 1,000 mark for the third straight day, on Friday.
Bangladesh is also witnessing an upward trend in the infection rate, with the latest figure standing at 6.62%.
The people might have become a little reluctant to follow health rules because of the availability of the vaccine, according to the minister, who requested everyone to properly follow the health guidelines.
The government shut educational institutions on March 17 last year after the country reported its first Covid-19 cases on March 8. The closure was extended several times, most recently until late March this year.
Classes in all primary, secondary and higher secondary level educational institutions were scheduled to resume on March 30. At a recent virtual media briefing, the education minister said that university classes would resume on May 24.
Residential halls were scheduled to be reopened on May 17.
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