Reconstruction of DU’s TSC: Authorities solicit opinions from students, teachers

The office of the chief engineer of Dhaka University (DU) has sought recommendations an opinions from all current teachers and students of the university, on the development and extension of the DU Teacher-Student Centre (TSC).

The acting chief engineer of DU Abul Kalam Sikder asked for the recommendations in a letter on Thursday sent to all faculty deans and institute directors, requesting them to distribute the letter among all students and teachers.

The letter was attached with a Google form link which they were asked to submit by January 2, 2021.

The letter said the development and extension work of TSC was undertaken with the instruction of DU alumni Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"We will submit the recommendations and expectations to the Public Works Department (PWD) of the government – who will operate the development work," Abul Kalam Sikder told the Daily Star.

TSC is the work of legendary Greek architect and planner Constantinos Apostolos Doxiadis.

The mastermind behind planning the city of Islamabad, Doxiadis was also the founder of Ekistics, a school of thought that concerns the science of human settlements, including regional, city, community planning and dwelling design. He designed TSC in the early 1960s.

PWD ordered the authorities concerned to modernise Dhaka Medical College Hospital, TSC, and public library on September 2. The decision to bulldoze TSC and replace it with a multi-storied structure drew criticism students, alumni, and residents of Dhaka ahead of the Dhaka University's birth centenary in 2021.

The latest move from the authorities appear to be a response to the criticism that have been sparked, largely on social media.