Last shutdown being lifted.

Preparations are afoot to lift the last pandemic-induced shutdown in Banglsdesh through reopening campuses from early February, with resumption of classes for next SSC and HSC examinees on condensed- course assignments. The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education has asked all secondary schools and colleges to complete preparations by February 4 for reopening, after eleven months of forced closure of educational institutions that is apprehended to inflict far-reaching blowback impact on the most vital sector of life with ramifications for society, economy, livelihood, advances of humanity and so. In a notice, the DSHE instructed the heads of educational institutions to put in place necessary measures by February 4 for reopening, ensuring health safety of all students in line with the guideline provided to them. The notice was signed by DSHE Director- General Prof Syed Md Golam Faruk. Mask use, hand sanitization, temperature check and six-foot distance in seating arrangement of students are among the health protocols ordered. "No mask, no school (class)," the DG told the media about the strict precautions being in place to ward off the viral contagion as the covid-19 still rages over the world though Banglsdesh looks blessed with low incidence now. Official counts showed Saturday the infection rate having fallen to a minimal 3.92 percent. The casualty rate, however, rose to 1.51 percent or 22 against the detection of 436 cases in the last 24 hours. The directive came a day after the education ministry and the primary and mass education ministry had discussed resumption of classes at schools on a limited scale. The country's educational institutions have remained shut since March 17 due to the pandemic. The closure was last extended till January 30. At a press conference on December 29 last, Education Minister Dipu Moni had said they were planning to bring class-10 and class- 12 students back to schools and colleges. The students will sit for next year's SSC and HSC exams. Classes for SSC candidates will be held from February to April and for HSC students from February to May. She said the government was planning to hold the delayed SSC exams in June and the HSC exams in July or August if the Covid-19 situation in the country does not deteriorate. Usually, the SSC exams start on February 1 and the HSC exams on April 1 every year. This year's exams will be held based on curtailed syllabuses being prepared by the National Curriculum and...