The New Nation - Internet Edition

DU Correspondent

Dhaka University yesterday wore a festive look on the first day of the reopening of the country's highest educational institution after a prolonged closure.

Lively group of students attired in their best were seen on the campus passing their time embracing each other, chatting with their friends and classmates.

All the corners of the university were brimming with male and female students, as university buses carted loads of them on to the campus since early morning.

Classes of all the departments of the university were held yesterday where teachers

participated spontaneously and students` presences were also high.

Some examinees wasted no time in occupying a place in the central library to prepare for their ensuing examinations.

"It's nice to be back after 67 days, the feeling would have been greater had the detained teachers and students been present," said Moidul Islam, a student of 2nd year of Political Science Department.

He hoped that the teachers and students would return soon among them through legal process.

Najmul Alam, another student of Journalism Department, said, "It's like returning to my mother's lap after a long absence."

He hoped that the government would release the detained teachers and students for the greater interest of education.

Sabrina Yasmin Riya, 2nd year student of Sociology Department, said the university authority should take steps so that it does not close frequently.

She said she was feeling very bad for lagging behind academically by almost three months, as her examination was supposed to be completed by the end of August 2007.

Student leaders of different political parties including, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Bangladesh Chhatra League and left leaning organisations gathered in their usual haunt- the Modhu`s canteen.

Asaduzzaman Palash of Chhtara Dal said that political processions, rallies and showdowns have to be stopped during class hours, so that the congenial atmosphere of the educational institution was retained.

He said student politics` need reform acceptable to all and its activities should be only for the welfare of the students.

A group of Bangladesh Chhatra Union activists met with the Vice-chancellor (VC) Prof SMA Faiz yesterday.

Sources said they requested the VC to secure the release of Manabendra Dev, president of Chhatra Union DU Unit.

Prof Faiz told them that he has nothing to do in this regard saying he could not take any responsibility for incidents occurring outside the campus.

Students have nothing to be worried about, if they were not involved with violence outside the campus, he said and added that the detained students could appear in their examinations with permission from the court.

He hoped that it would be possible to reduce the session jam, if the academic activities were not interrupted any more.