The government has again extended the ongoing closure of all the educational institutions of Bangladesh until July 31 as the coronavirus situation keeps worsening in the country.
The decision has been taken considering the overall Covid-19 situation, imposition of lockdown and safety of teachers, students and staff, Mohammad Abul Khayer, public relations officer of the Education Ministry, told UNB on Tuesday.
During the closure, students must stay home to protect themselves and others from Covid-19, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education said in a notice on Tuesday, before adding that online learning activities would continue in the meantime.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said colleges and universities will reopen once the ongoing vaccination drive for students is complete.
On the other hand, primary and high schools will be allowed to reopen when the Covid-19 situation comes under control, she said on Tuesday while participating in a general budget discussion in parliament.
On May 26, the government had decided to reopen the educational institutions, particularly primary, secondary and higher secondary ones, across the country on June 13, depending on the Covid situation.
But the situation has been continuing to worsen in the country, particularly in border districts.
The latest decision has been taken as per the directives of the National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 and it will remain applicable for Ebtedayee and Qawmi madrasas, too.
On March 16 last year, the government had closed all the educational institutions to prevent the spread of coronavirus. No classes have been held since then.
Then the closure was extended several times, most recently until June 30 this year.
Covid situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh on Monday reported a record-high number of daily Covid-19 infections, after confirming its first cases on March 8 last year and 7,626 on April 7.
Between Sunday and Monday mornings, 8,364 people were diagnosed with Covid-19 from 35,059 sample tests, bringing the country's caseload since the beginning of the pandemic to 896,770.
New infections have been averaging 5,000 for the past few days – 75% of the peak. The highest daily average was reported on April 9.
The country, battling to get a second coronavirus wave under control, also reported more than 100 deaths for a second straight day. The new number, 104 deaths, took the country's death toll to 14,276.
Bangladesh reported 119 deaths on Sunday, its highest-ever daily fatality from the pandemic.
Also, the country's positivity rate reached its peak at 23.86%, which was recorded at 23.57% on April 8, according to the health directorate
