Students demolish foundation stone

Students of Govt Syed Hatem Ali College in Barishal city held a demonstration yesterday, demanding that the institution's new academic buildings be built outside the playground.

On a visit to the college, this correspondent found that angry students had broken the foundation stones, and they brought out a procession with placards.               

Students said that the college authorities and Education Engineering Department (EED) did not consult them when they made the decision to build two multi-storied buildings on the college playground.

College Principal Prof Sachin Kumar Roy laid the foundation for the buildings on January 23.

Uttam Kumar Ray, a student of the college, said, "We will not accept new buildings being constructed on the college field. If EED does not meet this demand, we will announce a tougher programme."

Samir Kumar Rajokdas, executive engineer (XEN) of EED, Barishal said that the buildings are being built right outside the playground, so it would not interfere with the students' athletic activities. He added that EED cannot choose the site for the buildings, they only began construction once the college authority finalised the sites for the buildings.

The principal said that these buildings are not being constructed on the college field, and that students are being fed misinformation to create a tense situation.