Dhaka University closed indefinitely

Dhaka University has been closed indefinitely and students have been instructed to leave their residential halls by 6:00 pm.

The decision by the university’s Syndicate – its highest policymaking forum - was announced by Prof Sitesh Chandra Bachar, the pro-vice chancellor (academic), around 1pm on Wednesday.

The Syndicate had sat for an emergency meeting at the office of Vice Chancellor ASM Maksud Kamal at 10am on Wednesday to determine their response to the University Grants Commission’s instructions to close all universities across the country and to order students to leave their residential halls amid violence surrounding the quota reform protests.

Dhaka University will be closed indefinitely and students must leave residential halls by 6pm, Bachar said.

The emergency syndicate meeting began amid tight security on campus by Border Guard Bangladesh and other law enforcing agencies.

The meeting was to determine when students would be instructed to leave their residential halls.

After an hour, the vice chancellor and other Syndicate members emerged from the meeting but did not speak to the media.

Dr Abul Mansur Ahmed, a member of the Syndicate, said that no decision had been reached during the first meeting which began around 10am and ended around an hour later.

A second meeting was then held and Pro VC Bachar announced the university closure afterwards.