Festivity was in the air as (he Chittagong University (CU) became vibrant yesterday with students returning to the campus to attend their classes alter long eight months

fhe stalemate at (he university that lasted lor eight months finally came to an end when (he Bangladesh Chhatra I eague (BCL) called off its siege programme following a meeting with (he university authorities on Tuesday Iasi.

On the first day of the resumption of classes yesterday, students brought back (he academic atmosphere with their presence in thousands.

Apart from the classrooms and corridors of the faculties, the congregation places of students --Ihupri (tea stalls), Jarultala, CUGSU building, Moier Dokan, and the railway station -- suddenly sprang to life with buzzing activities of the students.

Even (he leaders of rival student organisations, who were at daggers drawn until recently, embraced each other al (he university railway station in the morning.

The leaders of the Marni

Chhatra Shibir (ICS) greeted the BCI leaders and general students at the railway station with flower petals.

I he leaders of both the groups posed together for photographs and reiterated their vow to cooperate with the authority in maintaining the congenial atmosphere at (he university. The leaders also pledged to work together to (his end.

“Now we are friends," they said.

Zillur Bahman Jewel, president of BCL CU unit, told the reporters that the BCL called oil the siege programme for the greater interests of 14,000 students of (he uni-vershy.

He also hoped that (he authorities will meet their demands to ensure the academic atmosphere.

On the first day of the reopening. classes were held at a lew departments. But the examinations will begin as per schedule, the departmental sources said.

Also yesterday. 200 more resident students were rehabilitated at different dormitories of the university Of them, 15 BCL activists were rehabilitated at the Shah

Amanai, Shah Jalal and the So-hrawardy halls. And 10 lo 15 JCD activists will enter different dormitories today, organisational sources said.

I he university shuttle trains plied between the campus and the city as pci schedule and the buses cuiiied (he students hum the uni-versiiy gale no I lo railway sialion.

I am very happy that I am attending classes op the campus. And now (he authorities should take steps to remove the session jams," Ahmed Keza. a first year student of journalism department said.

VC. Professor AJM Nuruddin Chowdhury said, "Within a few days, I will convene an academic meeting with the department chairmen to discuss how to remove the session jams."

I Ie also sought (he cooperation •of the chairmen in this regard so that they take the examinations as per schedule and publish the result within three months.

"I am very happy that finally the university has reopened and the leaders have embraced each other forgetting their previous enmity."