Dhaka University to Reopen Residential Halls and Resume Regular Classes on 28 December

Dhaka University has announced that its residential halls will reopen and regular in-person classes will resume on 28 December, following a full review of the institution’s academic calendar and recent structural assessments of its facilities. The winter vacation will remain unchanged, although the university has made minor adjustments to accommodate the reopening schedule.

The decision was finalised on Wednesday (3 December) during a meeting of the university’s Deans’ Committee, presided over by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan. The decision was later confirmed through an official statement issued by the Public Relations Office of the university.

According to the statement, the Deans’ Committee reviewed detailed progress reports on the post-earthquake technical inspections undertaken at various residential halls. These inspections were carried out by specialised sub-committees comprising experts from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and engineers from the university’s own engineering department. The assessments focused on identifying structural vulnerabilities and recommending essential renovation work to ensure the safety of students upon their return.

The committee considered all technical recommendations and the broader logistical situation of the university before deciding to maintain the previously declared winter vacation. However, 23 and 24 December have now been added to the holiday period. As a result, regular academic activities—particularly face-to-face classes—will resume on 28 December, at which point residential students will be allowed to return to their respective halls.

During the winter vacation, the university authorities have clarified that no internal examinations will take place. However, in order to prevent academic delays and compensate for instructional gaps, ongoing online classes will continue until 13 December. These remote classes are intended to help students keep pace with the curriculum during the transition period and ensure that essential learning outcomes are met.

The Deans’ Committee also resolved that examinations—which were suspended following the recent earthquake and subsequent assessments—will resume in the first week of January. Individual departments will revise their examination timetables after consultations with their respective faculty deans and in coordination with the Office of the Controller of Examinations. This measure aims to ensure that academic assessments can resume smoothly without burdening students during the transition back to normal campus operations.

The university highlighted that emergency repair and renovation work at residential halls is currently underway. The structural integrity of several buildings was found to require urgent attention after the earthquake, prompting the authorities to conduct swift inspections and begin necessary repair work.

University officials cautioned that, although the halls will reopen on schedule, renovation work may continue in some facilities. Students and hall residents are therefore urged to cooperate with administrative staff and engineers as they complete the remaining repairs. The authorities assured students that every effort is being made to minimise disruption while maintaining safety as the highest priority.

The announcement aims to provide clarity and reassurance to students, many of whom had expressed concerns about academic delays, accommodation uncertainties, and the overall safety of campus facilities. The reopening decision signals the university’s confidence in the ongoing repair work and its commitment to restoring normal academic operations in a safe and orderly manner.