The prevailing political stalemate is taking its toll on academic activities of the country's around 50 million (5.0 crore) students studying at the primary to higher education levels.
The regular classes and examination schedules at most of the educational institutions have already been affected badly by the prolonged blockade coupled with frequent general strikes much to the concerns of academics, teachers, students and their guardians with no end to the stalemate in sight.
The ongoing Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examination s are being shifted frequently while academic activities are being badly hit with students being haunted by the fear of violence.
They have expressed fear that if the situation is allowed to linger on, it would have a catastrophic impact on the overall schooling activities in the country, although some institutions are taking cover-up classes during holidays to compensate the adversities.
Although the government distributed new text books among 44 million primary and secondary school students in early January just at the beginning of the academic calendar year, most of the city's schools failed to start their regular classes even after 50 days into the current calendar year.
"Our institutions remain almost closed as the majority of students don't attend classes during the general strike," Dr Shahanara Begum, Principal of the Ideal School and College at Motijheel in the city said.
They could not take additional classes during the holidays, as Friday and Saturday had also been reserved for the SSC examinations, she added.
While visiting the Holy Cross Girls High School and College in the capital on Wednesday this correspondent found its main entrance locked from inside at 12:30 PM.
"During the hartal hours, it usually remains closed," a security guard at the city's reputed academic institution said requesting anonymity.
Nafiz Zaman, a class nine student of the Dhaka Residential Model School and College said although the presence was thin, but their classes were being taken regularly.
"Usually, the residential students are attending the classes," Nafiz said adding that there was also some sort of flexibility in attendance.
According to the education boards, the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations on 31 subjects have been rescheduled as the BNP-led alliance has been enforcing the nationwide blockade coupled with frequent general strikes since January 06. More than 1.4 million (14 lakh) students are participating in the exams.
At the higher education level nearly 2.0 million students of the National University (NU) are the most affected.
It has failed to hold three final examinations (1st year, 2nd year and degree pass course), slated for February.
"We had no alternative but to postpone the three final examinations. About 0.7 million students have registered for the exams across the country," said NU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Harun-or-Rashid.
He expressed frustration over the disrupted schedule saying that the ongoing bloody politics would badly affect the university's regular academic calendar.
"Although we recently announced a special programme to reduce the existing academic tailback of the university, it seems the political gridlock may worsen further," the professor said.
Asif Mahmud, a second year student of Finance Department under the Dhaka University (DU), said their classes and class tests were being affected badly because of the blockade.
"However, our teachers are working to make up for it by shifting classes and exams to holidays-Friday and Saturday," Mr Mahmud said.
But DU examinations controller Bahalul Haque Chowdhury denied any reschedule of the university's examinations during the blockade. "We are taking all the semester final examinations on schedule," he added.
Like the public universities, the ongoing political standoff also put the country's private universities in trouble as they could not take classes regularly.
"Because of the general strike, our classes remain closed," said Ovijit Bhattacharja, a 3rd year student of Pharmacy Department at the BRAC University.
Mohammad Shameem Azad, Assistant Registrar of the university, said they were working to make up for the losses by taking additional classes during the weekend.
"Besides, the university authorities also decided to take classes without break from Sunday next (February 22) to keep the academic calendar unhindered," he noted.
Former Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof Emajuddin Ahamed said because of the political standoff every sector was bleeding, but most of those losses could be recouped within a certain period of time, except the academic loss.
"It's not all about the schedule collapse only, it strikes at the root of academic activities," the professor said. The nation would pay the price in the long run.
The political analyst said few sensitive areas like education, medical treatment and business should be exempted from any movement.
"Unfortunately, our political culture is very destructive and each and every party believes in use of force in any movement," he noted.
He called upon the government to take immediate initiatives to resolve the ongoing political crisis so that the nation could get rid of the nuisance.
"It is the government's key responsibility to restore normalcy in the country," he observed.
According to the latest report (2013) of the University Grants Commission (UGC), there were a total of 2.42 million students at the higher education level. Of them, around 0.21 million were studying at public universities, 0.4 million at private universities, 0.25 million under the Bangladesh Open University, 1.4 million under the National University and 0.25 million at all other affiliated institutions including Madrasah.
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