The “July Martyr Memorial Building,” which has a capacity to accommodate 1,008 students and features a total of 252 rooms, was inaugurated as an extension of DU's Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall on Saturday around 6pm.
DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan, Pro-VC (Administration) Professor Dr Sayema Haque Bidisha, Pro-VC (Education) Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed, and Treasurer Professor M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury were present during the inauguration.
The ceremony was presided over by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall Provost Professor Dr Md Akhteruzzaman.
During the inauguration, VC Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan expressed hope that the newly constructed building would help alleviate the student housing shortage.
Regarding the building's name, he stated that it was chosen to honor those who saved the nation during difficult times.
"All our work will remain dedicated to the welfare of the country and its people," he added.
Pro-VC Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed said that the building was named the “July Martyrs Memorial Building” to preserve the spirit of creating a discrimination-free Bangladesh.
"This building will play a role in keeping alive the memory of those young people whose enduring sacrifices allow us to speak freely today," he added.
The July Martyr Memorial Building, an 11-storey structure, has a total cost of Tk9,258.50 lakh. The cost breakdown includes Tk111.68 lakh for advisory services and Tk7,495.20 lakh for comprehensive construction (covering civil works, sanitation, gas, electrical systems, fire safety, and sewage infrastructure).
Additionally, Tk650.36 lakh was allocated for furniture, Tk15 lakh for utensils, Tk191.97 lakh for the sub-station, Tk68.98 lakh for the generator, and Tk39.71 lakh for lift installation.
The building’s layout is organized as follows: The ground floor accommodates administrative and service areas, including the provost’s office with a waiting area, meeting facilities, a dining hall, auditorium, salon, laundry, and staff offices.
The second floor features various communal spaces such as house tutor rooms, a mosque with an imam’s residence, a canteen, TV room, games room, cultural room, and cyber room.
The remaining floors, from the third through the eleventh, are designated for student accommodation, containing dormitory rooms and reading spaces.
The consulting agency for this project is Sheltech Consultants (Pvt) Limited, and the construction company is Wahid Construction Limited.
The work order was issued on November 11, 2018. Construction started on January 1, 2019, and was completed on February 1, 2025, although it was originally scheduled to be finished on June 30, 2024.
The land allocated for the student residential building is 43.00 Katha, for the teachers' residential building is 14.00 Katha, and for the sub-station building is 3.50 Katha.
The dimensions for the student residential building (the “July Martyr Memorial Building”) are 202,322.9 square feet, for the teachers' residential building is 36,594.9 square feet, and for the sub-station and water pump are 3,162 square feet.
The July Martyr Memorial Building features modern amenities, including proper ventilation, air conditioning, CCTV cameras, modern fire hydrant systems, emergency exits, and specialized electrical wiring. The building includes three lifts and three sets of stairs.
The teachers' residential building is equipped with similar modern facilities, including emergency exits, CCTV cameras, fire hydrant systems, and advanced apartment layouts.