University Grants Commi-ssion (UGC) has taken an initiative to undertake full-time maintenance and security of the Central Shaheed Minar and urged Dhaka University (DU) to take the lead to this end.

The commission has sent a letter to the DU authorities asking them to prepare a proposal regarding the manpower required for the maintenance and overhaul.

UGC Chairman Prof Nazrul Islam said this at a press conference at his office at Agargaon in the city on Thursday.

"The Central Shaheed Minar gets due respect only on February 21, but it remains uncared for the remaining days of the year, which is a shame."