National University announces new exam schedule amid protest

The National University (NU) has published a revised schedule for all postponed examinations amid protests by its students.

On Monday, it announced that all examinations under the National University (NU) were postponed until further notice which created a furore among students.

Before the new schedule was published on Thursday, police in Dhaka foiled NU students’ attempt to block the Shahbagh intersection, when at least 10 people were detained.

In a media statement, the National University said all the postponed examinations will be taken as per the revised schedule from May 24.

Police detain a student during a demonstration at Shahbagh in Dhaka on Thursday | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneThe tests include the second year exams for the 2019 Degree Pass and Certificate Course, Masters final examination for 2018 session and all other professional courses.

The admission process for the 2020-2021 academic calendar will begin from June 8, it said

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Detailed revised schedule of the postponed examinations has been published on the university website -- www.nu.ac.bd. 

On Thursday morning, several students demonstrated at the Shahbagh area protesting the move to postpone examinations. 

At one point, they tried to block the Shahbagh intersection, when the police intervened. At least 10 protesters were detained.

Students of National University hold demonstrations in the Dhaka's Shahbagh area on Thursday demanding resumption of their postponed examinations | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune“Some students have been taken to custody for interrogation. They will be released if not found guilty,” Deputy Commissioner Sazzadur Rahman of the police’s Ramna zone told the media.

Hours later, the Shahbagh police station said they have released ten students who were detained from the demonstration.

“The students were handed over to their guardians following interrogation,” Officer-in-Charge Mamun-or-Rashid told Dhaka Tribune in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, in Netrokona, several students of the National University were injured as police dispersed them by baton-charging during demonstrations in the district town.

Earlier on Wednesday, amid protests over the postponement of exams, the authorities of the seven colleges affiliated with Dhaka University announced that the examinations would be held as scheduled – but with a few conditions attached.

The Ministry of Education issued a statement, saying the examinations would take place, reversing an earlier decision to postpone the exams till May 1, made by the Dhaka University and the college authorities.  

Police detain a student during a demonstration at Shahbagh in Dhaka on Thursday | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

However, the ministry said the dormitories would remain closed.

The exams also must be held through following health safety rules for Covid-19. 

Following the demonstrations, a group of National University students on Wednesday also declared that they would hold a protest program in Shahbagh at 10am on Thursday.

Earlier on Monday, against the backdrop of agitation by public university students, the government announced that the academic activities at all universities – public and private – would resume from May 24, after Eid-ul-Fitr. 

The dormitories of public universities would reopen on May 17.