Published in: The Daily Star
Date: 05 October, 2021

A day before the Dhaka University halls reopen, Covid-19 vaccination drive for the university teachers, students, officials and employees began on the campus yesterday.

The vaccination programme is being held at a temporary set-up at the Martyred Intellectual Dr Muhammad Murtaza Medical Centre. It is slated to continue till October 17.

Dr Sarwar Jahan Muktafi, chief medical officer of the medical centre, told The Daily Star that they have the facilities to vaccinate around 5,500 students, along with some teachers and employees.

Earlier around 9:30am yesterday, Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman inaugurated the campaign. He said they took the initiative so that students can get vaccinated within a short period of time.

“We will be able to resume normal operations as soon as all students get vaccinated,” he said.

Speaking at the inauguration, Dhaka district Civil Surgeon Abu Hussain Md Moinul Ahsan said, “We don’t usually allow setting up vaccination centres outside of hospitals or government organisations, but we’ve permitted this centre with highest priority.”

According to an official of the university’s ICT cell, around 23,000 of the total 47,000 students have received at least the first dose of Covid-19 vaccines, meaning around 49 percent students have been vaccinated.

Among them, around 18,000 have received the second dose, the source said.

Earlier, DU provost standing committee had recommended resuming in-person classes once all students get vaccinated.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/health/disease/coronavirus/fallouts-fightback/vaccine/news/vaccination-students-teachers-begins-du-2191001