Residential students of Dhaka University are living in constant fear of imminent danger of the collapse of run-down dormitories that are too weak to withstand any natural disaster.
Students said the authorities had not taken any measures to repair the halls declared risky by the engineers of the university.
The most risky buildings on the campus are 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, said acting chief engineer Mofizul Islam.
The engineers and experts of the university have already expressed concern about these risky buildings, he added.
While visiting the halls this correspondent found many walls with cracks and crevices and ceilings without plasters at places.
Students of those halls said they had witnessed many minor accidents of plasters falling off the celling on residential students but none was seriously injure.
Salimullah Muslim Hall established in 1921 has become so dilapidated that one can notice numerous cracks on the celling of the two-storey building.
Asif Uddin Ahmed, a resident student of the hall said: “We are always at risk and we have received minor injuries several times. But still we are here as we cannot afford other places to live in.”
Crakes were also found in the main building of Haji Muhammad Mushin Hall. Students of the hall said a long patch of plaster had fallen in the TV room injuring three students about six months ago.
“With a view to repairing the main building the hall authorities shifted some students to the newly made tin-shed structure few years ago,” said a student of that hall seeking anonymity.
Muhsin Hall Provost Ali Akkas Said: “Our buildings are very old and that is why some minor incidents had happened. The university authorities have already taken initiatives to repair those buildings.”
In Zahurul Haq hall, a portion of roof of a corridor has collapsed a few days ago. After the incident, university vice-chancellor along with some experts visited the hall and ordered the department concerned to repair it soon but the repair work is yet to start.
A portion of the north block of the Surja Sen Hall has collapsed recently. Surja Sen Hall provost Maksud Kamal said: “We have talked to the higher authorities to repair the broken part of the north block as well as some other parts of the hall building. The process could not be started for lack of budget.”
On October 15, 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.
Rokeya Hall Provost Prof Nazma Shahin said: “Some of our buildings are at risk and we need to construct new buildings to ensure safety of the students.”
Prof Dr Mahmud Alam, chairman of the geology department, said any natural disaster could wreak havoc on the rickety dormitories.
When asked DU acting chief engineer Mufizul said: ”We could not start the repair work for lack of sufficient budget. In 2011, Tk11crore was endorsed for the repair work but we did not get the total amount of money.”
DU Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique said: “We have noticed some cracks in our university buildings and our team is working to repair those. Despite the limitation we have already constructed some new halls for residential students.”