Academy of Strategic Management Journal Volume 19, Special Issue 1, 2020 Covid-19 Outbreak: Strategies for Developing Enterprises & Economies 1 1939-6104-19-S1-646 ASSESSING THE CHALLENGES IN ONLINE CLASS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC IN BANGLADESH Md. Rayhanul Islam, Daffodil International University Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University Md. Zahangir Kabir, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University Siddiqur Rahman, Daffodil International University Shahana Kabir, Daffodil International University ABSTRACT The study intends to present the key challenges in attending the online classes faced by the students. Challenges have been categorized by different aspects. In conducting the study primary data have been collected by using a well-tailored online questionnaire. Total 508 responded to the online survey where snowball sampling technique was adopted. SPSS software and simple cross-tabulation were used to analyze the collected data. The study found that although highest percentage of students are attending the online class from metropolitan city or divisional city, 30.7% are attending from village area which is a dominating portion of the students. 68.9% respondents are using mobile data which is not cost effective for them. The study also resulted that network and facility related challenges, student-teacher interaction related challenges and personal & socio-psychological challenges are the prioritized challenges complained by the students. Considering the results the study recommended some suggestions that might help for the policymakers to eliminate the challenges of online classes in the future. Regulatory bodies like UGC, government, individual universities and other concerned authorities have many roles to play. Keywords: Online Class, Policymakers, Internet in Education, Socio-Psychological Challenges. INTRODUCTION During the pandemic online education is an unavoidable alternative for education system. Some raise questions about the regularity or quality of it while some others compare it with on campus or face to face education. However learners of the whole world today are looking for flexible education format like any time or anywhere. Especially a group of learners having particular obstacles are demanding online learning opportunities and education providers are also positively responding (Schrum & Hong, 2002). Quality and popularity of online education are not same in all the countries or in all the institutions. Learning and teaching styles, personal motivation and infrastructure facilities are dominating factors for the smooth online teaching (Eom et al., 2006). Some higher education institutions have been able to prove successful delivery in online teaching (Fredericksen et al., 2000). In spite of having some difficulties, online teaching and learning is an opportunity for existing unavoidable problem. Since the beginning of the spread of coronavirus, the educational institutions of all levels all over the world had to shut-down there on campus traditional face to face delivery system. Some institutions are conducting the academic activities online while some others are not. Those who are actively conducting the academic activities online are