Risky living in JU hall

Like other days, Al Mamun Raza, a resident student of Jahangirnagar University (JU), was walking on the top floor of Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall, when a piece of concrete fell from the roof and startled him.

Panicked students posted about the incident on social media and requested the provost to visit the hall to see the situation.

Recently, the provost, along with hall authorities have visited the building and assured the students of immediate renovation.

Prof Shafi Md Tarique, provost of MMH hall, said the incident may have taken place as the building has turned old. The university's engineer section has been notified at least four times, but they are yet to respond, he alleged.

Contacted, JU acting chief engineer Abdus Salam Md Sharif admitted to receiving the letters and stated that due to a shortage of money, the renovation activities of the hall could not be started.

However, denying allegation of fund shortage, Prof Amir Hussain, Pro-VC of the university, said the renovation work will start soon after talking to the provost and the engineering department.

The 44-year-old four-storey building has not been renovated in the past seven years, sources said, adding that some rooms have turned unusable.

The hall authorities had not taken any initiative to repair the dilapidated building, said many of the resident students. Around 1,000 students live in the dormitory with plaster flaking off and walls developing cracks, and rods sticking out of the ceiling.

The incident of concrete bits flaking off the ceiling has increased in the past six months, the students added. They said they were worried that the incidents might take a serious turn if not addressed immediately.

Contacted, Vice Chancellor Prof Farzana Islam assured of immediate renovation of the building. She said she also had instructed the authorities to take proper initiatives in this regard.