Cuet students begin vacating dormitories
Fearing the spread of coronavirus, students of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) are leaving campus and dormitories, despite assurance from authorities of "taking preparations" against it.
Cuet campus sources said the presence of students in classroom s has been very thin since novel coronavirus patients were identified in the country. In addition, worried students started leaving dormitories after two more people were tested positive with the deadly virus on Saturday.
They did not even sit for the third year [level-3; term-2] examinations yesterday, said the students.
However, Cuet authorities said academic activities will not be suspended until any directive comes from the education ministry.
Campus sources said Cuet has six dormitories -- five for male and one for female students. Around 4,500 students are studying under 15 departments and three institutes of the university.
Residential students said they have requested the university authorities to suspend the academic activities after three coronavirus cases were detected in Dhaka a few days ago.
The two more confirmed coronavirus cases incited fresh fear among students, prompting them to vacate the dorms.
Seeking anonymity, a third-year student of Cuet's civil engineering department told the Daily Star that most students left their dorms on Saturday night, after two new cases were confirmed in the country.
CU JOURNALISM STUDENTS BOYCOTT CLASSES
Meanwhile, Chittagong University (CU)'s Communication and Journalism department students announced of boycotting classes and examinations.
Naimur Rahman, a student of the department, said, "Gatherings and crowds should be avoided to combat spread of the virus, but every day thousands of students travel to campus on shuttle train, which can lead to continuous spreading of the virus. Besides, we're also packed into classrooms and dormitories, so we are exposed to the risks," he added.
Earlier, CU administration sent an Italy-returnee associate professor to his house for home quarantine a few days ago, as he came to the campus after the virus outbreak in the European country.
CU Proctor Prof SM Monirul Hassan told this newspaper, "We have asked students not to panic. We are observing the situation and are alert."
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