A 'risky' RU dormitory

Cement plasters often fall from roofs in most of the rooms.

The authorities earlier sealed off eight rooms and identified 12 others as 'risky'. But 50 students stay in those 12 'risky' rooms due to acute accommodation crisis.

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At least 1200 resident students stay in the 860-seat hall.

Students said condition of the first floor is precarious. Old bathrooms, hall office, dining hall, TV room and the newspaper room give a deplorable look with loose plusters falling. At night students use bathrooms in darkness as there is no light.

Talking to this correspondent, resident student Rakibul Hassan said, "We remain always afraid as pluster from roofs can fall on us any moment".

Some days ago, a student narroly escaped as a big chunk of pluster fell, he said.

The hall provost submitted written complains to the Vice-chancellor several times after some students were injured by falling plusters. The authorities just sealed off eight rooms, another student said.

When contacted Provost Dr Abul Kashem said VC Prof Faisul Islam Faruki visited the hall recently, but repair work is yet to be initiated.

"The education ministry granted only Tk two crore after we sought Tk 10 crore for repair work", said Pro-VC KHM Shahadat Hossain Mondol when contacted.

A source said the authorities are waiting for a long vacation to start repair work.

The hall was establish in 1973 on 16 acres of land and named after Porf Habibur Rahman who died during the Liberation War.