DU abuzz with students as classes resume after 112 days

Dhaka University (DU) buzzed with academic activities on Sunday as students returned to classes after a lengthy break of three and a half months.

This resumption comes after significant shifts in the country's political landscape and changes in the university administration.

Students expressed relief and excitement at being back in the academic environment. Most departments and institutes began classes, although first-year students will start on September 30. From early morning, students flooded the campus, coming from dormitories and various locations outside.
The Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) transformed into a bustling hub as students reconnected with peers.

In a poignant moment before the classes began, a minute of silence was observed at around 9:30am at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building in memory of the martyrs of the 2024 uprising.

Vice Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan led the ceremony, attended by Pro-Vice Chancellors, the Treasurer, the Proctor, and deans of various faculties. Pigeons were released as a symbol of peace during the event.

Following the ceremony, Prof Khan visited classrooms, engaging with both students and teachers.

He noted the positive atmosphere surrounding the resumption of classes, which he described as cordial and peaceful.
Students shared their thoughts about returning to class after such a long break.

Sultanul Arefin, a student from the Department of Islamic History and Culture, expressed his relief.

Arefin said, "I feel good to be back in class after 112 days. I thought I might not survive the uncertainty of this situation. When police oppression began and the halls closed on July 17, I feared my academic journey might end."

Despite his joy, Arefin highlighted challenges ahead.

"Being away from studies for almost four months has disrupted our learning significantly. Overcoming the backlog will be challenging, but I hope we can maintain our resilience and continue with our studies and activities," he said.

He urged the university administration to take steps to address the academic delays in the upcoming semesters.

Tashrifa Fairuz Raisa, a student in the English Department, said, "The master's programme is our last academic pursuit before entering the workforce. Returning to class made me realise this is my final opportunity to share experiences with my classmates. It rekindled a sense of belonging that I had missed."

The university had entered a hiatus on June 2, following Eid-ul-Azha.

Subsequently, faculty and staff began a work abstention on July 1, protesting a new pension scheme, which halted academic activities. Tensions escalated as students protested against quotas in government jobs, announcing an indefinite boycott of exams and classes on July 7. These demonstrations, led by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on August 5.

In the wake of this unrest, then Vice Chancellor Prof Maksud Kamal resigned, and the interim government appointed Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan from the Development Studies Department as the new Vice Chancellor on August 27.

A complete administrative overhaul was promised, with a focus on revitalizing the university's academic and political environment.

An emergency meeting of the university's Syndicate on September 13 announced a timeline for the resumption of classes.

Prof Niaz said, "The decision to restart classes was made after discussions with all stakeholders, including teachers and students."

He said, "Students have been facing mental trauma due to the upheaval."

Prof Niaz expressed commitment to resolving conflicts between students and faculty.

He pledged to implement measures to help students recover from academic losses and called for cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure smooth educational activities.