Continue with classes, exams amid agitation: UGC to universities

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked universities to continue with their academic activities amid the BNP-led coalition’s non-stop transport blockade and shutdowns.

The instructions were issued after a meeting on Sunday that brought together UGC officials and the vice-chancellors of universities.

UGC Chairman AK Azad Chowdhury told universities to continue with classes and exams at any cost amid the 20-Party alliance’s agitation.

The agitation has been on since Jan 5 to back demands for a snap poll.

The UGC chief also advised using weekly and public holidays to make up for backlogs in the academic calendar.

On Feb 16, the High Court issued a rule instructing the government to take necessary steps to stop violence during the ongoing transport blockade and shutdowns.

On Saturday, the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB) announced its decision to carry on with academic activities amid the BNP agitation.

Some of the public universities are holding classes and exams, but the rest are not.

A statement by UGC on Sunday said that vice-chancellors (VCs) of all public and private universities agreed to carry on with academic activities amid the blockade and shutdowns.

Some of the VCs, however, said at the meeting that the universities’ transport services cannot be operated during shutdowns.

“Bangladesh will see situations like those in Afghanistan, Iraq or Syria, if it’s educational activities can be destroyed by those who lob petrol bombs,” the UGC chief told the meeting.

Dhaka University VC AAMS Arefin Siddique told the meeting that they have been holding classes and exams in full swing during the BNP agitations.

VCs of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh Agricultural University and the National University also spoke at the meeting .