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Age-old DU dorms with cracks and splits

Students reside in fear of deadly accidents


Bangladeshpost
Published : 26 Nov 2019 09:34 PM | Updated : 06 Sep 2020 03:08 PM

Many of the old dormitory buildings of Dhaka University have become risky for the residential students as those buildings are now in such dilapidated condition that severe accidents may happen anytime. Students residing in those buildings are in continuous fear of a collapse as the walls and ceilings have developed cracks and plaster is flaking indiscriminately.

Students alleged that the university authorities are not caring much about the true condition of the buildings and had not taken enough initiative to repair the dormitory buildings which were declared risky by the engineers of the university.
Students further alleged that authorities just take initiatives to repair the damaged part instated of going for a permanent solution, leaving the structure again in a vulnerable state.

The risky age-old dormitory buildings are in Haji Muhammad Mushin Hall, Salimullah Muslim Hall, Jagannath Hall, Shahid Sergeant Zahurul Haq Hall, Surja Sen Hall, Rokeya Hall, Fazlul Haque Hall and Shahidullaha hall, Sir PJ Hartog International Hall. Visiting the dormitories, this correspondent found many walls with cracks and crevices and ceilings without plasters at places.

Students of those halls said they have witnessed many incidents of plaster falling off the celling on residential students which could be serious accidents. In latest incident, two residential students of Jagannath hall was injured by plasters falling on Sunday late night. They were taken to Dhaka Medical Hospital for treatment.

Injured student Edward Soren Said, “On Sunday late night, we got injured by falling plasters on us from the ceiling but hall authorities simply didn’t care about it. Hall authorities said us to live outside in the hall as they failed to accommodate sit crisis.”

Students of different halls often get injured by falling plasters on them but in most of the cases hall authorities don’t pay any heed to repair it. Salimullah Muslim Hall, established in 1921, has become so dilapidated that one can notice numerous cracks on the celling of the two-storey building.

Noyon Ahmed, a resident student of the hall said, “We are always at risk and many of us have received minor injuries several times. But still we are here as we cannot afford other places to live in.” Cracks were also found in the main building of Haji Muhammad Mushin Hall. Visiting several rooms of the hall, this correspondent found many walls with cracks and crevices and ceilings without plasters at places.

Muhsin Hall Provost Nizamul Haque Bhuiya told Bangladesh Post, “Our buildings are very old, established in 1967, and that is why some minor incidents had happened.” On 15 October 1985, 39 students were killed at Jagannath Hall when a roof caved in on the students in the TV room. Many students of the hall fear the repetition of the accident.

When asked DU acting chief engineer AKM Afzalul Haque said, “Most of the dormitories are old and the buildings should be repaired soon but we have not sufficient budget for that.”