Viquarunnisa University land being used to raise catfish!

Locals allegedly cultivate catfish at the 'abadoned' under-construction building of Viquarunnisa University. PHOTO: STAR

For the last four years the five-bigha land designated for the construction of Viquarunnisa University (VU) has been left in an abandoned state and some local people are using the spot to breed catfish.

The then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had laid the foundation stone of the university on July 16, 2001 but construction work stopped after the four-party coalition government came to power. Since then the land, which is adjacent to the Viquarunnisa Noon College, has been left abandoned and the concerned authorities are now planning to construct an extension of the college building to accommodate its English medium students.

"In 2002, the University Grant Commission and the government's audit department declared that the decision to construct the university was illegal. That is why we are thinking of starting our English medium section at that spot. Establishing a parade ground is also in our plans," said Royana Hossain, principal of Viquarunnisa Noon School and College (VNSC).

Construction work of the university was hastily stopped and the basement remained uncovered. It is now under at least 12 feet water and staff of the nearby Fakhruddin and Sons catering service reportedly breed catfish there.

"We no longer breed catfish there. Some other local people are involved in it," claimed a staff of Fakhruddin and Sons.

A committee consisting of eight members including the past chairman of VNSC had decided to start a private university in 1999 on five bighas of the college's 22-acre area.

"As it was a project undertaken by the previous government, the current government has not shown much interest in completing it," said a member of that committee who added that Tk six crore had been drawn as temporary loan from the VNSC funds for construction and other related works of the university.

The VNSC governing body 'closed' the university on September 13, 2001 alleging irregularities in transferring land and funds.