State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Zakir Hossain said government primary schools would be reopened within the first or second week of February. 

The state minister said it to reporters at the ministry on Tuesday. 

Final decision of reopening schools will be taken after discussing the matter with the prime minister, he said, adding that school authorities were asked to clean up and prepare the classrooms within February 4. Classes will resume any day after that.
   
"To overcome classroom crisis for maintaining social distancing, classes of all graders will be taken in several shifts," he said. 

Earlier on January 24, Education Minister Dipu Moni said regular classes will be held only for 10th and 12th grades once educational institutions across the country reopen after prolonged closure induced by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Students of other classes will have in-person classes in their educational institutions once a week and take their tasks for the whole week.

All educational institutions of the country declared closed on March 18 last year in wake of Covid-19 outbreak. Later that closure was extended till January 30, 2021 in several phases. No classes have been held since that day.

BDST: 1710 HRS, JAN 26, 2021
AP/SMS