Dhaka Polytechnic Students Evacuate Unsafe Hall After Multiple Quakes

After four tremors were felt in two days, students of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute decided to spend the night on the road on Saturday, 22 November, fearing that the ‘dilapidated’ Abdul Latif Hall might collapse.

In this situation, the authorities issued an order at night to vacate four residential halls of the institute. The students, meanwhile, announced a boycott of classes and examinations until safe accommodation is arranged or a new hall is built.

Jubayer Patwary, a resident student of Latif Hall and a central member of the Technical Students’ Movement, said, “The 70–80-year-old building already had many cracks. After Friday morning’s earthquake, several new cracks appeared.” He added, “After two more tremors on Saturday morning and evening, the cracks widened further. After 8 pm, we refused to stay inside the hall and moved to the street with our beds and pillows.”

On Saturday night, the Dhaka Polytechnic Institute authorities issued a notice ordering the temporary evacuation of Latif Hall (East and West wings), Dr Kazi Motahar Hossain Hall, Zahir Rayhan Hall, and the female dormitory. They also announced the suspension of mid-term exams and classes until further notice. Attempts to reach Acting Principal Sahela Parveen for comments went unanswered. Students said she is currently in Japan.

Although the Education Engineering Department (EED) declared part of Latif Hall “hazardous” last June and recommended renovation, no work was carried out.

When contacted, SM Safin Hasan, Executive Engineer of the Structural Design Division of the EED, said that after inspecting the hall on Saturday, their team found it in a dangerous condition. The 70-year-old, dilapidated building has cracks in the fourth-floor columns and roof beams, while plaster and concrete from various parts of the ceiling have fallen off, exposing the reinforcement bars.

He added that in June, the Executive Engineer of the Dhaka Metropolitan Range declared the fourth floor unsafe and recommended renovation. “We are preparing to formally submit our report and recommendations to the Directorate,” he said.

DBTech/DP/IK/OR