Multiple campuses close and classes postponed amid earthquake panic

A series of earthquakes between Friday and Saturday triggered widespread panic in Dhaka, prompting several public and private universities, medical colleges, and other educational institutions to suspend classes and examinations for multiple days. Many campuses have begun urgent inspections of academic buildings and residential halls to determine whether the tremors caused structural cracks or fresh damage.

Outside the capital, institutions such as Rajshahi University and Bangladesh Open University have also initiated infrastructure assessments. Some universities in Dhaka shifted to online classes on Sunday as a temporary measure. Students, however, have continued to demand long-term solutions to the long-standing deterioration of many residential halls.

Dhaka experienced three light earthquakes within eight hours on Saturday, following a moderate quake on Friday morning that killed at least 10 people and injured more than 1,000. Fear spread rapidly as students in several halls of Dhaka University jumped from upper floors during Friday’s 5.7-magnitude quake (Bangladesh Meteorological Department), leaving at least 20 injured.

Dhaka University quickly suspended all classes and examinations scheduled for Sunday and launched room-by-room inspections of Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall and other aging halls in collaboration with BUET experts. Later that night, in a virtual Syndicate meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmad Khan, the university decided to halt academic activities until December 6 and ordered students to vacate the halls by Sunday evening. Administrative offices remain open.

Throughout Sunday, students were seen leaving the halls with their belongings. Many expressed difficulty with the abrupt notice, citing private tuition work, jobs and other obligations. Some students argued that emergency evacuations do not address the long-term safety issues of decrepit halls, while others linked the decision to recent tensions at Mohsin Hall, where residents moved into staff quarters citing risks in the main building.

Students from Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall and Bangladesh–Kuwait Maitree Hall also rushed outside on Saturday night, with several suffering panic attacks. Many said staying in unsafe halls felt far riskier than waiting outdoors. Some, like Bijoy Ekattor Hall resident Arif Arman Nasif, could not leave due to lack of transport.

Late Saturday, a group of students held a sit-in in front of the vice-chancellor’s residence, demanding withdrawal of the forced-evacuation order, safe accommodation for residents of risky halls, and relocation to staff quarters.

Inspections of old halls, including Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, began Sunday morning. Repair work is ongoing at Surya Sen Hall, Mohsin Hall, and Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall. Earlier in October, students at Salimullah Muslim Hall protested after plaster collapsed on a student’s bed.

BUET authorities, currently on a term break, formed a specialist team to assess quake-related impacts. Inspections of four halls revealed no structural threats, though students noted long-standing vulnerabilities in Ahsanullah Hall, Nazrul Hall, and the old academic building, saying cracks appear to have worsened.

Dhaka Medical College and Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital suspended classes and exams until November 29. Mitford authorities confirmed one student died during the Friday quake, intensifying fears. Both institutions requested structural assessments from the Public Works Department. Students may go home if they wish, but have not been asked to vacate halls.

Jagannath University suspended Sunday’s classes and examinations and later decided to close all academic activities until November 27 to assess structural safety. Online classes will run from November 30 to December 4. A BUET-assisted committee will submit findings by December 3. While no visible damage was found in the women’s hall, many students struggled with the sudden displacement.

Dhaka Polytechnic Institute suspended classes and exams until further notice and ordered students to vacate all four residential halls. North South University conducted an immediate inspection and found no major faults, though visible cracks kept many in panic; all classes were held online on Sunday.

Rajshahi University decided to keep classes and halls open but launched a full safety inspection through a technical committee. At Bangladesh Open University, students were directed to leave old residential halls, and certain departments were relocated to safer buildings.