The Dhaka University authorities on Tuesday reopened its residential halls for regular honours final year and master’s level students after 18 months of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Tuesday morning, many students were waiting in front of their hall gate. As soon as the door of the hall gate was opened, the students entered into the hall in a festive mood.
The students entered their halls from 8:00am on the same day after showing their vaccination cards and valid university identity cards.
‘It is a great pleasure to have our hall open today, almost two years later and so this day is a lot like Eid, for the students of Dhaka University. This feeling cannot be expressed in words,’ Said Mohiminul Islam, a residential student of Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall said.
‘We welcome the decision of reopening halls but it will be a more legitimate decision if the authorities consider allowing vaccinated students of all semesters as some departments and institutions are taking exams both online and offline,’ said Sathi Biswas, a residential student of Rokeya Hall of the university.
However, most of the residential halls already have installed hand washing basins at entrances and restoration and renovation works are completed for welcoming the students.
According to hall authorities, dining rooms, canteens, reading rooms and restrooms are already cleaned.
Meanwhile, DU authorities are preparing to open the halls for the students of other semesters as soon as possible.
According to the decision of the authorities only regular students will be able to reside in the halls after getting at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Provost Standing Committee convener and also provost of Bijoy Ekattor hall Professor Abdul Basir said, ‘Our students are very cooperative with us. They are entering the hall following proper guidelines.’
On the same morning, Dhaka University vice-chancellor Professor Md Akhteruzzaman visited the Bijoy Ekattor Hall and Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall of the university.
However, the authorities decided to abolish a so-called ‘Ganorooms’ system which is a controversial issue for both teachers and political students’ organisations.
Notable, the residential halls of the university remained closed since March 18, 2020 due to Covid-19 outbreak.
