Dhaka University, the country’s oldest university, will launch its vaccination campaign on Monday at its medical centre, aiming to vaccinate its teachers, students and staff.

The university has already turned its Martyred Intellectual Dr Muhammad Murtaza Medical Centre into a temporary vaccination centre. 

Officials said the campaign will be inaugurated at 9:30am and run till October 17 with Sinopharm vaccine jabs.

The vaccine seekers must bring their national identity cards (NIDs) or DU IDs to complete the on-the-spot registration.

The drive for the second dose was scheduled to begin on November 1.

Those who have already registered to receive the Covid-19 vaccine at centres under Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), such as Dhaka Medical College Hospital, BSMMU, and Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute, may take the vaccine at the DU if they are yet to be vaccinated with any of the doses.

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Those who have registered with any other vaccine centre must take the vaccine at that centre, and not at the DU.

The students who have already received the first dose of a vaccine at the DSCC vaccination centre will be able to receive the second dose of the same vaccine from the temporary camp after receiving an SMS.

The students were advised to register for vaccines online, as on-the-spot registration may take time due to the rush of vaccine seekers.

Dhaka University, having over 37,000 students, remained closed since March 13, 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The university authorities have decided to reopen its residential halls on October 5 next for the master’s and honours final-year students who have taken at least one dose of anti-Covid vaccine.

The university central library, science library and the seminar rooms of all departments will be reopened for students from September 26 and those will remain open from 10 am to 5pm, said DU Pro-VC (Education) ASM Maksud Kamal.

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He added that student IDs and the proof of having at least one vaccine dose will be strictly monitored by the university authorities.

Aiming to raise health awareness, banners and festoons will be hung at the visible places of every residential hall and academic building with guidelines for following the hygiene rules.

Upon getting vaccinated, the dormitories will be reopened for the honors 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students in phases, the Pro-VC said.

According to the syndicate decision, residential halls cannot be crowded as before and no so-called 'Gono rooms' will be allowed there to continue. “Only regular resident students will be accommodated in the dormitories in accordance with the health protocols,” Maksud Kamal said.

The date for resuming in-person classes will be fixed after all the students of the university come under the vaccination programme.