Govt served legal notice not to reopen schools

A Supreme Court lawyer has served a legal notice on the government, requesting it not to reopen the educational institutions until the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic is completely over.

Khandaker Hasan Shaharyar sent the legal notice to the authorities concerned of the government on January 27 also urging them to take necessary steps to provide 100 percent online classes to the students through using digital system during the pandemic.

He also appealed the government to cancel its decision to reopen the institutions in February. Citing the legal notice, Shaharyar told The Daily Star yesterday that if the academic institutions are reopened now the students' health will be at risk as the Covid-19 pandemic is yet to end.

He said he will move a writ petition before the High Court for necessary orders if the government reopens the academic institutions in this situation.

Earlier on January 11, another legal notice was served on the government requesting it to reopen all the educational institutions including the schools and colleges across the country from January 16.

Lawyer Faruque Alamgir Chowdhury sent the legal notice on behalf of Abdul Kaiyum Sarkar, principle of Vawal Mirzapore Public School and College, to the education secretary and director general of the directorate of education for taking steps to reopen academic institutions from January 16.

Citing the legal notice, Faruque told The Daily Star that the educational institutions of the country have remained closed since March last year due to ongoing Covid-19 pandemic situation hampering the study of the students. The shutdown of the institutions was extended for 11 times so far and therefore, lakhs of students are facing adverse impact.