Children in Bangladesh flooded back into classrooms as schools reopened after 18 months, one of the world's longest coronavirus shutdowns.

The resumption came after Unicef warned that prolonged school closures during the Covid-19 crisis were worsening inequities for millions of children across South Asia.

In the capital Dhaka, students at one school were welcomed with flowers and sweets, and told to wear masks and sanitise their hands. Some hugged each other in excitement.

“We are really excited to be back at school,” 15-year-old Muntasir Ahmed told AFP as he entered the campus. “I am hoping to physically see all of my friends and teachers, not through a laptop window today.”