Living on the edge

For years, experts have warned about the vulnerable condition of Dhaka University's residential halls, but those warnings have gone unaddressed.

Since 2008, multiple expert teams have inspected the old buildings and recommended comprehensive repairs. However, only emergency fixes were carried out, The Daily Star has found.

As a result, thousands of students have long lived in fear of a potential disaster, officials said.

Friday's earthquake intensified those concerns as fresh cracks appeared in buildings of at least 12 dormitories. Plasters also peeled off in many areas, according to hall union representatives.

The 5.7-magnitude quake left at least 10 students injured in four halls. In response, the university authorities announced a two-week vacation to repair the dormitories.

University engineers confirmed that Sir Salimullah Muslim Hall is currently at the highest risk, followed by Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall, Shahid Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall, Surja Sen Hall, and Shamsunnahar Hall.

They said a Buet team inspected Mohsin Hall in 2008, and another team reviewed Mohsin, Zahurul Huq, Surja Sen, and Shahidullah halls in 2014.

DU engineer Md Moin Uddin said the experts had recommended major overhauls for Mohsin Hall and Surja Sen Hall. However, only partial strengthening of the footings and beams was completed. Both halls have now developed fresh cracks.

Another DU engineer, Md Meraj Uddin, said a Buet team inspected Sir Salimullah Muslim Hall in 2021 and recommended evacuation for major repairs. "But no progress has been made yet," he said.

Engineers blamed chronic underfunding for the lack of regular maintenance.

"The government allocates money for development, but not for maintenance. It has become a tradition," said Meraj.

He said if the halls and other academic and administrative buildings were maintained regularly, the situation would have been better.

Acting Chief Engineer Kazi Md Akram said all old DU buildings require regular maintenance, but due to a low budget, only emergency work is done.

He said the expert teams' full recommendations were never implemented.

According to the office of the DU Director of Accounts, around Tk 22 crore was spent on hall maintenance over the last five fiscal years. Meanwhile, the chief engineer noted that renovating a single hall fully would cost around Tk 20 crore.

"If the authorities lack the capacity to maintain existing structures, they should not construct new ones," he added.

During Friday's 5.7-magnitude quake, a resident jumped from the second floor of Shahidullah Hall, fearing the building might collapse. He avoided major injuries, said the hall union's vice president, Tarekul Islam.

"We already knew the building was vulnerable. Still, around 400 students live here. Old cracks on the beams have spread after the earthquake," Tarekul said.

That same day, a group of Mohsin Hall students moved into empty flats at the 20-storey Swadhinota Bhaban -- meant for third-class university staffers -- to protest the long-standing inaction.

"This has been a problem for years," said third-year resident Md Ramzan. "We protested six months ago, but nothing changed. After the earthquake, it became a matter of life and death. We are not here permanently -- just until they fix our hall."

Fourth-year student Robiul Islam added, "While you sleep, the ceiling could fall. If staff have comfortable flats, why must we live with such uncertainty, especially when many of them rent out their allotted houses instead of staying there?"

At Kabi Jashimuddin Hall, two students were injured when ceiling plaster fell during the quake, said hall union vice president Muhammad Osman Gani.

He said another plaster chunk had fallen the night before, narrowly missing a resident.

"Three students broke their legs while running downstairs during the earthquake," he added.

On Sunday, Jashimuddin Hall union leaders submitted a memorandum demanding that the hall be rebuilt from scratch.