Students have started to board at the residential halls of the Islamic University (IU) which was reopened after being closed for 18 months.

On Saturday (October 9) Vice Chancellor Professor Sheikh Abdus Salam welcomed the students with flowers, chocolates, biscuits and masks. Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Mahbubur Rahman, Treasurer Professor Alamgir Hossain Bhuiyan and provosts of different halls were present there.

University Proctor Professor Jahangir Hossain said residential students who have received at least one dose of vaccine are getting up. The students are getting up in the hall without any hesitation.

Meanwhile, the students were seen overwhelmed with the joy of opening the university. They have expressed a lot of excitement.

Zakia Aroni, a resident student of Sheikh Hasina Hall, said she left Jashore very early in the morning and came to the campus. Although her parents told her to wait to see a couple of days, she did not want to wait a day to get up.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall student Ashokesh Roy said he came to the campus after 18 months with a feeling of great joy. He said that he was very happy to be able to return to normal education.

Meanwhile, the mass rooms (Gono rooms) of different halls have been kept closed for the time being. Only students with a residential card can get up at the moment.

According to campus sources, out of 15,000 students of the university, only 23 percent get accommodation. In 7 halls, more than one thousand students live in mass rooms. They are flooring or doubling in the rooms with the permission of the authorities and after completing several procedures.According to the University Engineering Office, renovation work is still going on in and around the halls.

According to the engineering office, the university received an allocation of Tk 2.15 crore from UGC last June for the renovation of the halls. Of these, seven residential halls received an allocation of Tk 1.35 crore.

However, the reforms are being delayed as work has not started on time.

Munshi Shahid Uddin Mohammad Tareq, chief engineer (acting) of the university, said the renovation work has started from October 8. It will take another month to complete the overall work.

Vice Chancellor Professor Sheikh Abdus Salam said the responsibility did not end with the opening of the hall. It is also important to keep the students healthy and well
He said that the coming days have to be dealt with in accordance with all the rules and regulations to avert Covid-19.

He said the authorities have instructed all concerned to keep an eye on these issues.