The campuses of all the public universities are beginning to get back life as the enthusiastic students have already started returning to their respective dormitories after a long closure caused by Covid-19 pandemic.
Getting back to the old atmosphere in the respective halls, most students have expressed excitement and felt nostalgic. They were seen cleaning their lockers, shelves and personal belongings as part of their eleventh hour preparation to resume campus life.
The halls have become abuzz as many others were seen exchanging greetings, singing and having long conversations as they could finally get to see their mates after a prolonged period of 18 months.
On the other hand, the authorities concerned to the halls have renovated the infrastructures in a way that the residential students can have a fresh restart. The buildings, rooms and other structures are repaired and painted again.
Bhidora Rowshan Prova, a 4th year resident student of Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree Hall at the University of Dhaka (DU) told Bangladesh Post after getting back to her dormitory, “I have felt like getting my life back. Most of the seniors and fellow mates are here like the old times, the feeling is like the joy of any festival.”
“Regarding the risks of coronavirus transmission, the hall has been repainted, which is very nice to look at. Basins, sanitizer and spray facilities have been arranged at the entrances. Extraordinary infrastructural reforms have been made which is commendable,” she added.
Most universities have announced to reopen classrooms following the reopening of dormitories. Among those, Barisal University (BU) and DU were the earliest as they reopened their halls on October 4 and 5 respectively on condition of already having the students jabbed with at least the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine.
Nabir Hossain Joy, a resident student of BU’s Sher-e-Bangla Hall said that the atmosphere in the hall is starting to get back to the old time, but in a new mood. The hall is slowly getting abuzz with students. After a long 18 months, mates and youngsters are busier at the first hours with chatting and playing in the field than being fully engaged in studies.”
Meanwhile, most other universities have announced the dates of reopening halls and classrooms. As part of reopening the dormitories, they are conducting a clean-up drive to renovate and repair for making them usable after a prolonged stagnation.
In this regard, Provost of Motihar Hall at the University of Rajshahi (RU) Mustak Ahmed told Bangladesh Post, “We are installing hand washing facilities and the overall repair work is ongoing. The hall building has remained locked for a long time and so, the water tank cleaning is one of the major concerns for the health and safety of sanitation.”
“We are going to resume all the facilities at once when we open on October 17 and begin classes on October 20,” he added.
Along with RU, Jahangirnagar University (JU) is set to reopen their dormitories on October 11.
Moreover, several other universities, including University of Chittagong (CU) and Khulna University (KU), Shahjalal Science and Technology University (SUST) have planned to reopen halls and campuses this month.
