Bangladesh reopened all educational institutions on Sunday, including universities, secondary schools, and colleges, after a month-long closure due to violence surrounding student-led protests that resulted in the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The institutions were initially closed indefinitely on July 17 to ensure student safety amid clashes during protests for job quota reform. On Thursday, the Ministry of Education issued a directive to reopen schools under its jurisdiction, and they resumed operations on Sunday.

Somoy Television reported that a directive signed by Deputy Secretary Mosammat Rahima Akhtar instructed all concerned to resume academic activities from August 18, following Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s orders.

Students were seen returning to schools in Dhaka on Sunday morning, leading to severe traffic congestion in parts of the city. Classes were originally set to restart on August 4 but were delayed. The postponed Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams will now take place from September 11 to October 23.

Classes at public universities had been suspended since July 1 due to a teachers’ strike protesting a new pension scheme. After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, the institutions were declared open on August 7, but low student attendance prevented a full resumption of academic activities.

Source: PTI

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