Light at the end of tunnel for MC College hostel

The 90 years old hostel of Murari Chand College in Sylhet, which was burnt down in an arson attack during a clash between Bangladesh Chhatra League and Shibir activists on July 8, 2012, will be functional soon, according to college authorities.

Even though the dormitory was constructed in 2014, it remained abandoned due to some administrative problems including pending gas bills, said Principal Nitai Chandra Chanda, adding that after overcoming all the predicaments they had decided that the hostel will be functional after the Eid-Ul-Fitr.

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He said the newly constructed hostel will accommodate 244 students on its six blocks but around 400 students have applied already and the selection process for the new residents is ongoing.

The college, established in 1892 by Raja Girish Chandra Roy, was named after his grandfather Murari Chand. The one-storey hostel was built in 1921, following the British period architecture of “Half Wall Assam” pattern with tin, and half wall.

Four days after the incident, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid visited the hostel and broke into tears after seeing the burnt remnants as he was a resident of the hostel and ordered its quick repairment.

Male dormitory of Murari Chand (MC) College in Sylhet, which was burnt down in an arson attack, during a clash between Bangladesh Chhatra League and Shibir activists on July 8, 2012. Photo: File

On 14 October 2014, the newly reconstructed hostel was inaugurated by the minister. The reconstruction project was completed spending almost Tk 4 crore, said college officials.

“We are very excited as the hostel is going to be finally functional. This would help the students who are not financially solvent or has to live in a rented house,” said Raju Biswash, a second year student of mathematics, who has also applied for a seat.

When asked, without mentioning any specific date, the college principal said, “The hostel will start functioning within the next two weeks.”

But the college has around 14,000 students and the authority could barely provide them residence, alleged students.

The newly constructed hostel with its six blocks, which is the only one available for male students, will accommodate just a few, they said, adding that there is also a female hostel that can house 100.

“A 100 seat hostel for male and another 100 seat one for female students are under construction. I know the number is not satisfactory but we are trying our best to solve the crisis,” said the principal.