As the Fifa World Cup 2014 knocks on the door, it seems Dhaka University has joined the tide that is the biggest celebration of world football.
The excitement is evident on the campus as the football-loving students were seen buying flags and jerseys of their favourite countries, painting the teams’ slogans, collecting posters and festoons, and so on.
Though the air of festivity has been around for a while, the craze truly started at the beginning of this month. Gates of several residential halls were seen decorated with flags and banners, as well as paintings of several football teams, especially Brazil and Argentina.
When visited, dormitories like A F Rahman, Haji Muhammad Mohsin, Jahurul Haque, Surjo Sen, Jagannath halls were found to be fully decorated following the theme of World Cup. The female dormitories are not behind in the preparation either.
Residents of the hall collected money from all the students to fund the decoration.
Flags of Barzil, Argentina and Bangladesh were seen flying at the gate of AF Rahman Hall. Supporters of Brazil and Argentina bring out processions on the campus at least once a day wearing the teams’ jerseys. They have even opened fan pages on Facebook to show their support for their favourite teams.
When asked about the preparation, Ferdous Rifat, a fourth-year student and resident of AF Rahman Hall, said: “I have never enjoyed it so much on the occasion of any other World Cups, cricket or football, as I have this year.
“We have already finished decorating our hall and are waiting for the tournament to start,” he added.
A few TSC-based organisations are making arrangements for large screening of the matches on the TSC premises.
Though the university will be closed in June for summer vacation, the residential students have yet to vacate the halls for the World Cup.
Fuad Hossain Shahadat, a third-year student and resident of Salimullah Muslim Hall, said: “This is the first time that I will enjoy the World Cup football on the campus. I do not know much about the celebration here, but judging by the preparation and enthusiasm of the students, I am really impressed and do not want to miss it. That is why I will stay here during the vacation, instead of going home.”
However, the teachers are also equally caught up in the World Cup fever. Conversations centring the tournament are happening in the Teachers’ lounge and Dhaka University Teachers’ Club.
Proctor Amzad Ali told the Dhaka Tribune: “We talk about the World Cup, and sometimes there are heated arguments over the teams among the teachers whenever we get together, especially at the club in the evening.”
He also said some teachers had already bought the jerseys of their favourite teams for their family members, especially for the children, but also for themselves.
“We have arranged for a large screen at the club to watch the World Cup together,” he added.