Dhaka schools resuming classes after three months

Schools in Dhaka city are getting back to normal after three months of disruption caused by the BNP-sponsored agitation.

Management of the schools have decided to resume full-scale academic activities from Monday after the BNP excluded Dhaka and Chittagong from the purview of their shutdowns due to city corporation polls.

School academic year begins in January but the institutions in Dhaka could not run normally due to the 20-Party Alliance’s indefinite nationwide transport blockade since Jan 5 and several rounds of shutdowns along with it.

The BNP has been issuing statements every week since early February announcing shutdown on all working days compelling the institutions to conduct classes only on the weekend.

The latest BNP statement sparing Dhaka and Chittagong from the purview of their shutdowns have been welcomed by school authorities, students and their guardians, who were anxious not to suffer any more disruption.

Manirul Islam, guardian of a student at Monipur High School in Mirpur, said: “My daughter has been frustrated as the school was closed.”

Businessman Islam suggested keeping educational institutions outside ‘this destructive politics’.

Educational institutions suffered the most due to the political unrest over the last three months. 

Though offices went about business as usual amid the agitations braving subversive acts, school authorities preferred keeping their institutions closed out of concern for safety of students.

Even the education ministry had deferred test of several subjects in the SSC and equivalent exams to weekends.

Many schools conducted classes on Sunday as the agitation-related violence eased.

During visits to several schools, this correspondent found students rejoicing.

Coming out of his classroom at Nalanda School at Dhanmondi, first grader Juhayer Sahab Meghdut said: “Today we had a lot of fun.”

He said he did not feel good when his school remained shut. Others agreed.

Motijheel Ideal School and College Principal Shahan Ara Begum told bdnews24.com life is now back at her institution.

Bijoy Majumder, father of fourth grader Pranta Majumder at Motijheel Junior Laboratory School, expressed his ‘dissatisfaction’ for the institutions remaining closed for so long.

The banker said ‘this bad situation’ would have a negative impact on the children.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said the loss caused by agitation has to be covered through extra classes now.

He said he would discuss the issue with the teachers.

The minister renewed his call not to interrupt academic activities of educational institutions in the name of agitations.