As Dhaka prepared for the Awami League’s announced “Dhaka lockdown” on November 13, the majority of the city’s private universities moved quickly to online classes.
Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology, Southeast University, AIUB, IUB, East West University and WUB shifted classes online for November 12. NSU initially proposed online classes but later reversed the decision following the University Grants Commission’s guidance.
ULAB maintained offline classes but suspended buses after the Shanto-Mariam bus fire incident. Stamford University continued offline classes, though some students demanded cancellation.
The announcements were brief. Universities cited “unavoidable reasons” for the changes. Behind the scenes, rising tension, arson and fears of unrest marked the lead-up to the lockdown.
For students, the shift came fast. One day, they followed their usual schedule; the next, they logged in from home. Many were unprepared. This change was precautionary rather than a planned academic reform. It shows how emergencies ripple across daily university life.
Campus facilities, buses, labs, and study halls were paused. Students spread across Dhaka had to deal with unstable internet, shared devices, and noisy homes. Teachers scrambled to adapt on short notice.
The campus is more than classrooms. It is movement, discussion and shared space. Quick shifts to online classes created a unique layer of challenge.
