Pre-election disruption forces university classes online

As Bangladesh prepares for upcoming national elections next month political turmoil is taking a toll on higher education. Blockades and general strikes enforced by major opposition parties such as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies, who are boycotting the polls, have compelled many universities to cancel exams or shift classes online.

These parties have been holding political campaigns and events related to the upcoming 7 January polls, on most days barring Tuesdays, Fridays and weekends since 28 October. Major private universities have had to shift classes online on the days affected and have been forced to schedule exams at weekends. As a result, many teachers have had to work seven days a week.

The polls are taking place against the backdrop of a boycott by 15 registered political parties, according to the Election Commission. Some 29 parties – mostly the ruling Awami League (AL) alliance members, little-known and recently-formed parties, are taking part in the election.

The opposition BNP and the country’s largest Islamic party Jamaat-e-Islami have been out on the streets for several months. They intensified their campaigning from late October, enforcing blockades and general strikes demanding the government’s resignation, reconstitution of the Election Commission, and for the polls to be held under a caretaker government. BNP says that the previous two elections under the AL government were marred by irregularities.

The ruling Awami League says that the election will be held under the current government as per the constitution.

Sources at several private universities in Dhaka – North South University, Independent University, East West University, American International University-Bangladesh, United International University and Northern University said that they were shifting classes online on the days the opposition were enforcing a blockade and general strikes. All exams are being held on the weekends and on Tuesdays.

United International University’s Director of Public Relations Abu Sadat Md Mostansirbilla, said that they had shifted classes online on such days, while all exams are being taken in person and preferably on weekends.

The National University of Bangladesh, a public institution with around 2,250 affiliated colleges that offers tertiary education to about two million students, has already had to defer two end of year exams for first year honours undergraduates and end of year exams for third year students due to the disruption including blockades of roads and transport.

The fire service media wing informed University World News that between 28 October and 13 December, at least a reported 274 buses, trucks and covered vans were set on fire by miscreants.

Mustak Ahmed, a first-year student at NU-affiliated Dhaka College said he usually skipped less important classes on days blockades were being enforced due to reports of miscreants setting fire to buses. “I believe life is more important than studies”, he said.

National University Vice-Chancellor Professor Mashiur Rahman told University World News students and parents have become worried about their exams due to political disruption. “If the situation remains unchanged for more days, there is a strong chance of session jam”, he said, referring to lengthy university closures that lead to delays in graduating students that have occurred in the past.

Mashiur said setting vehicles like passenger buses on fire creates tension among students. “Class attendance dropped significantly during blockades. But we have to continue education”, he said.

He pointed out there had been significant learning losses for students during the COVID-19 pandemic, so not holding classes for more days could exacerbate the situation. He urged all political parties to keep the students out of purview of general strikes and blockades so that students do not face losses in academic time.

Fears for upcoming semester

Several universities feared the admissions process for the spring semester could face a setback if the political stalemate continues. Usually, private universities enrol the highest number of students in the spring semester, Mostansirbilla told University World News.

Many teachers and university officials are required to work throughout the week, putting pressure on them and hampering their social life. But they are accepting it for the sake of students, he added.

Bangladesh’s University Grants Commission Acting Chairman Professor Muhammed Alamgir said that universities should be well equipped to continue normal academic activities in any situation.

Universities will not be required to obtain UGC permission as their own decision is final for any work related to online classes. Lessons learned while conducting online classes during the pandemic will be helpful for them, he added.