Unmasked guardians crowd to guard masked-up students | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Monday
June 16, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2025
Unmasked guardians crowd to guard masked-up students

Covid-19 in Bangladesh

Mir Mohammad Jasim
13 September, 2021, 10:40 pm
Last modified: 13 September, 2021, 10:49 pm

Related News

  • 10 more Covid-19 cases reported in country
  • Covid-19: No health screening for passport holders at Hili checkpost
  • DMTCL urges Metro passengers to wear masks amid rising Covid-19 cases
  • Railways ministry urges Eid travellers to wear masks amid rising Covid cases
  • 10 students of school in Narayanganj fall sick with reported breathing problems

Unmasked guardians crowd to guard masked-up students

Health experts fear crowding parents outside schools may end up infecting their children

Mir Mohammad Jasim
13 September, 2021, 10:40 pm
Last modified: 13 September, 2021, 10:49 pm
Photo: Mumit M/TBS
Photo: Mumit M/TBS

Two contrasting pictures marred the second day of school reopening on Monday – students wore masks in the classroom while their guardians crowded outside, completely ignoring the virus safety guidelines, to keep watch over their children and take them back home afterwards.

Health experts, sounding a note of caution, said the crowding may act like superspreader incidents with the parents likely to infect the kids with coronavirus eventually. The education authorities said the education ministry, having undertaken programmes to make guardians aware of Covid safety measures, believe it is now for parents to realise the gravity of the situation.

This correspondent visited five schools in Dhaka Monday and found the same picture of parents gathering outside the schools or at school premises. Many of them were not wearing face masks.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

"I talked to some of the parents to convince them to follow the health guidelines, but to no avail," Kamrul Hasan, a guardian, told The Business Standard at Monipur School and College (boys section).

"If this continues, we will be the cause of student infections," he noted. Hasan said he has already requested the teachers to stop guardians from gathering at the schools or around them.

Forhad Hossain, the principal of the educational institution, said the school authorities are campaigning to encourage guardians to follow virus safety measures.

"We will issue a notice on health directives, and send it to the guardians soon," he added.

On Sunday, educational institutions returned to life after remaining shuttered for around one and a half years. The government reopened the educational institutions following the recommendations of the National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 (NTAC).

The NTAC recommended that schools make hand washing and mask wearing mandatory, and that gatherings be avoided.

Prof Dr Syed Golam Faruk, director general of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, told TBS that the ministry took up numerous programmes to make guardians aware of virus safety measures before the reopening of educational institutions.

"I believe guardians will realise the matter and stick to the health guidelines from Tuesday," he added.

The picture of health guideline compliance was different inside the schools with teachers, students and officials strictly maintaining virus safety rules. In the classrooms, everyone wore a mask.

Some students took off their masks when they came out of the classroom, but the teachers told them to mask up again.

More than one crore students from about two lakh educational institutions have been taking part in classroom studies across the country since 12 September.

According to the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, 74% of students joined classes on the first day of reopening and 75% on the second day.

Shahan Ara Begum, principal of Motijheel Ideal School and College, told TBS that all the teachers and staff are strict about maintaining the health guidelines.

She said teachers at the schools brief the students on health directives for at least five minutes before beginning the classes.

Public health experts have recommended stern action against guardians crowding outside the classrooms.

"The parents will be taking the kids to the school and bringing them back home. The students will not remain protected if the guardians take a lax approach to virus safety. The government must ensure mask wearing, and should introduce punishments if needed," said Dr Nazrul Islam, a noted virologist and former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.

On Monday, the medical colleges resumed classes with around cent percent student turnout. Professor Dr Titu Miah, principal of Dhaka Medical College (DMC), said the DMC authorities were satisfied with the health guideline compliance at medical classes.

Bangladesh / Top News / Education

Unmasked / Mask / COVID-19 in Bangladesh / Coronavirus / Students / Educational Instituion Re-Opening / Educational institution

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Bangladesh High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Saida Muna Tasneem. Photo: Collected
    ACC launches inquiry against ex-UK envoy Saida Muna, husband over laundering Tk2,000cr
  • Photo collage of ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun. Collage: TBS
    ICT orders newspaper ads summoning Hasina to appear before tribunal on 24 June
  • Unresolved mysteries behind abductions, rescues
    'Justice' as punishment: Inquiry commission reveals impact of criminal prosecutions on disappearance victims

MOST VIEWED

  • Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur. TBS Sketch
    Merger of 5 Islamic banks at final stage: BB governor
  • UCB launches Bangladesh's first microservices-based open API banking platform
    UCB launches Bangladesh's first microservices-based open API banking platform
  • Photo: Collected
    Pakistan rejects reports of missile supply to Iran
  • Non-performing loans surge by Tk74,570cr in Q1 as hidden rot exposed
    Non-performing loans surge by Tk74,570cr in Q1 as hidden rot exposed
  • Crore-taka bank accounts edge down by 719 in March quarter
    Crore-taka bank accounts edge down by 719 in March quarter
  • Nepal begins 38MW hydropower export to Bangladesh
    Nepal begins 38MW hydropower export to Bangladesh

Related News

  • 10 more Covid-19 cases reported in country
  • Covid-19: No health screening for passport holders at Hili checkpost
  • DMTCL urges Metro passengers to wear masks amid rising Covid-19 cases
  • Railways ministry urges Eid travellers to wear masks amid rising Covid cases
  • 10 students of school in Narayanganj fall sick with reported breathing problems

Features

The GLS600 overall has a curvaceous nature, with seamless blends across every panel. PHOTO: Arfin Kazi

Mercedes Maybach GLS600: Definitive Luxury

4h | Wheels
Renowned authors Imdadul Haque Milon, Mohit Kamal, and poet–children’s writer Rashed Rouf seen at Current Book Centre, alongside the store's proprietor, Shahin. Photo: Collected

From ‘Screen and Culture’ to ‘Current Book House’: Chattogram’s oldest surviving bookstore

20h | Panorama
Photos: Collected

Kurtis that make a great office wear

2d | Mode
Among pet birds in the country, lovebirds are the most common, and they are also the most numerous in the haat. Photo: Junayet Rashel

Where feathers meet fortune: How a small pigeon stall became Dhaka’s premiere bird market

4d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

ICT orders newspapers ads summoning Hasina to appear before tribunal on 24 June

ICT orders newspapers ads summoning Hasina to appear before tribunal on 24 June

31m | TBS Today
Who was IRGC intelligence chief Kazemi killed in Israeli strike?

Who was IRGC intelligence chief Kazemi killed in Israeli strike?

56m | TBS World
Yunus-Tareq meeting; What Amir Khusru said after returning home after participating

Yunus-Tareq meeting; What Amir Khusru said after returning home after participating

1h | TBS Today
Iran launches missile attack on Israel again

Iran launches missile attack on Israel again

2h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net