Football World Cup matches are being screened at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of the University of Dhaka beneath a tree that experts have identified as potentially hazardous.
With support from the Dhaka University unit of Chhatra Dal, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has arranged public viewings of the matches on a giant screen installed by a private company on the TSC premises.
A large Para rubber tree, described by experts as being in poor condition, stands close to the screening area. Fans have been gathering beneath the tree to watch matches, while some have even climbed it for a better view.
Professor Mohammad Zashim Uddin of the Department of Botany at Dhaka University expressed concern over the condition of several trees in the area.
“Two trees particularly worry me, one near DUS Chattar, which has already partially collapsed and remains at risk of falling completely, and another in front of Janata Bank at the TSC entrance,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
"I'm worried about both of them. And the larger trees around the area, I think their branches should be trimmed back a bit, to reduce the weight," he added.
Although no incident has occurred during the screenings so far, concerns are heightened by a previous tragedy. On September 7, 2023, the upper section of a Buddha coconut tree at the TSC collapsed, killing a rickshaw puller. Following the incident, university authorities removed shops operating beneath the tree and restricted access to the area.
A visit to the site on Wednesday found spectators sitting beside and beneath the hazardous tree while watching the matches.
Dhaka University Proctor Professor Israfil Ratan told the Dhaka Tribune that he was unaware of the condition of the trees but assured that necessary measures would be taken.
Meanwhile, the university administration issued a notice on Wednesday announcing restrictions on the entry of outsiders to the campus, although enforcement appeared limited on the ground.
Addressing crowd-control concerns, the proctor said, “It is neither possible nor practical to stop everyone before every match. Our plan is to identify and monitor suspicious individuals ahead of high-profile matches. However, effective implementation will require cooperation from all concerned.”
