Dhaka University (DU) academic activities will be suspended for the next two weeks, considering the safety and mental health of students in the situation arising from the recent earthquake and aftershocks. The university administration has instructed students to vacate the halls by 5 pm tomorrow due to technical considerations.

This information was given in a notification sent by Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, Director (Acting) of the Public Relations Department of Dhaka University, on Saturday (November 22).

It said that an emergency meeting of the Dhaka University Syndicate was held virtually today under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan.

The meeting was attended by the members of the syndicate. In addition, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, the Principal of Dhaka Medical College, the Acting Director of the Planning and Development Office, the Acting Controller of Examinations and the Acting Chief Engineer participated in the meeting.

The meeting considered the issue of physical and mental trauma of students due to the recent earthquake and its aftershocks and gave utmost importance to their overall safety. The meeting analyzed the opinions of BUET experts, the Director of the Planning and Development Office, and the Chief Engineer.

Their opinion is that the post-earthquake residential halls need to be thoroughly inspected, assessed for overall risk and necessary renovations. In order to assess this risk and make possible renovations, it is necessary to evacuate the residential halls. Therefore, the meeting decided to close all classes and exams at the university until next Saturday (December 6) and evacuate the residential halls.

The meeting requested the vice-chancellors to take necessary measures to vacate the residence halls by 5 pm on Sunday (November 23). However, the university offices will remain open as usual.

Earlier, DUCSU VP Sadiq Kayem confirmed this matter in a Facebook post.