As public demands for shutting down of all educational institutions in the country following the health authorities' suggestions to stay away from mass gatherings grows louder, the Road Transport and Bridges minister said that the government will take into consideration a possible shut down of educational institutions.
Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader, in a press conference at the party president’s political office in the city on Sunday, said the government is contemplating closing all educational institutions amid growing concerns about a possible coronavirus outbreak in the country.
"Closing schools and colleges is being discussed at the highest level of the government. We are considering the matter. We are extensively monitoring the situation. We will take necessary steps in the right time," he reiterated.
“The coronavirus pandemic has created panic and anxiety across the world. People of the country are also apprehensive about the disease,” he added.
The minister who is also Awami League's general secretary, revealed that Chinese authorities have sent a letter to the Bangladesh government to share their experiences on containing the outbreak.
"We have noted that only China has so far controlled the disease."
In the meantime, emerging after an emergency meeting over coronavirus at the Secretariat yesterday with representatives from 18 ministries, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said that the decision to close down schools and colleges is a prerogative of the Ministry of Education saying it is not under the health ministry’s jurisdiction.
"We want to keep people safe. We can request, but can’t put pressure," he said.
Director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Professor Dr Meerjadi Sabrina Flora stated that they were not considering classes as mass gatherings.
"However, we are advising schools to give up regular assembly and all sorts of games and sports for the time being," she said.
Inaugurating an inter-school hockey tournament at Mawlana Bhasani Stadium in the capital yesterday, the education minister said there was no compelling reason under the current circumstances to shut down educational institutions.
“Covid-19 has not yet transmitted person-to-person locally, and the government is trying its best to stop the spread of the highly contagious virus,” she said.
“In the event of any local transmission being determined, immediate steps to shut down schools shall be taken," she emphasized.
SAU, DU, JnU, RU students demand closure of academic activities
Meanwhile, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) in Dhaka has decided to suspend all examinations due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Authorities of the university made this decision yesterday in an emergency meeting held at its campus to stem the spread of the virus. The meeting was presided by Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Dr. Kamal Uddin.
The press note also urged all to not get confused about the matter.
Professor Dr. Kamal Uddin said: "All examinations of the university will remain suspended until further notice. Later, further action will be taken only after the government makes its decision."
Authorities of the university have also taken a decision to ban all types of meetings and public gatherings for an indefinite period for the safety of students.
Authorities have also decided not to let any group of Tabligh arriving from different parts of the country to stay at the university mosque as part of safety measures, the VC added.
Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, Prof Dr M Akhtaruzzaman, said yesterday night that the decision to suspend academic activities amid the coronavirus pandemic will be made considering the greater interest of the country.
Dhaka University authorities will hold an emergency meeting today where faculty deans, directors of all institutes, heads of all the departments and hall provosts have been asked to attend the emergency meeting at 10am, said the VC who will chair the meeting.
After the meeting the VC will distribute hand sanitizers among students and staff.
In another development, Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) urged the authorities to shut down the university temporarily or announce summer vacation early.
Echoing the student representatives, Dhaka University Teachers’ Association, and the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association also issued separate statements.
The students of Jagannath University also demonstrated at the university premises for the suspension of all academic activities.
In the wake of the detection of coronavirus cases in Bangladesh, students of Dhaka University (DU) and Rajshahi University (RU) on Sunday demanded that all academic activities be suspended.
They formed separate human chains on their respective campuses to push for their demand, saying they want to go home.
Writ seeks shutting down educational institutions, ports
Supreme Court lawyer Adv Eunus Ali Akond filed a writ with the High Court to shut down all kinds of educational institutions, airports, land and sea ports, to minimize the risk of a coronavirus outbreak.
Seven people including the secretaries to the Home, Health, Education, and Foreign Affairs ministry were made respondents.
Advocate Eunus Ali Akond said he filed the writ for the safety of the students as they could be affected if proper measures were not taken in a timely manner.
He said the writ may be placed before the vacation bench of Justice Mujibur Rahman Miah and Justice Mohiuddin Shamim on Monday.
Kamrul Hasan, Mamun Abdullah, Fahim Reza Shovon and Mizanur Rahman contributed to the report
