An engineering team, coordinated with an expert member from BUET, has begun inspecting various halls at the University of Dhaka to monitor and assess the post-earthquake situation, focusing on old and risky buildings.
Led by BUET Professor Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed, the engineering team inspected Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall this morning and Bangladesh-Kuwait Friendship Hall at noon on Sunday.
This information was provided in a notification sent from the University of Dhaka’s Public Relations Office. It was also mentioned that other halls will be inspected in phases.
The notification stated that renovation work is ongoing at Surja Sen Hall, Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, and Freedom Fighter Ziaur Rahman Hall.
An emergency meeting was held on Saturday in the meeting room adjacent to the Vice-Chancellor’s office to discuss the situation arising on the University of Dhaka campus after the earthquake. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dhaka, Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan, presided over the meeting. This meeting decided to inspect the old and risky buildings of various halls, including Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall. The respective hall provosts, residential teachers, and representatives of Ducsu and the hall unions were present during the inspection.
The notification stated that after the technical assessment report of the hall inspections is prepared, it will be made public. If the technical assessment identifies any risky aspects of the buildings, arrangements will be made to relocate the students elsewhere. It is hoped that the construction of halls under the University of Dhaka’s Higher Development Project will begin next March.
It was mentioned that yesterday’s meeting reviewed the ‘engineering technical assessment reports’ for the infrastructure of Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall from 2008 and 2015, prepared by BUET’s Bureau of Research, Testing and Consultation (BRTC). These reports had confirmed Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall as suitable for residence.
The meeting expressed the opinion that the news being spread about the hall being declared abandoned in a previous BUET expert report is completely false and a rumor. Members of the university’s senior management team immediately visited the hospital to see students injured in the earthquake and ensured proper medical treatment for the injured. They also inspected various halls and observed the overall situation in the halls.
The notification stated that in yesterday’s meeting, it was announced that the work on the proposed project for the repair and renovation of University of Dhaka buildings, at a cost of Tk149 crore, will begin in the second week of December. Additionally, the ongoing renovation of 175 rooms in Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall will continue and will be completed as quickly as possible.
It is noteworthy that the implementation of the University of Dhaka’s Higher Development Project is progressing. Important stages of this project, with an estimated cost of Tk2,841 crore, have already been completed. The Ministry of Education has consented to allocate Tk60 crore in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the first fiscal year of this 5-year project.
In the first phase, the construction of halls for female and male students will begin. Under this project, the process of appointing consultants for the architectural and structural design of 31 buildings has been initiated. Notices for appointing the consultant firm will be published sequentially on the e-GP portal and in national dailies starting from 24 November.
The Project Director was appointed on 12 October. The Annual Procurement Plan (APP) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year has already been published on the e-GP portal. The University of Dhaka authorities and the Project Management Unit (PMU) are continuing relentless efforts to quickly make the project’s work visible, following the Public Procurement Act (PPR), financial regulations, and planning guidelines.
It is noteworthy that the work of the 5-year project will be completed by 2030. Under this project, 6 academic buildings will be constructed, 4 residential halls for 2600 female students will be built, 5 residential halls for 5100 male students will be constructed, house tutor accommodation facilities will be created for 5 male halls and 4 female halls, 2 residential buildings for teachers and officers will be constructed, 5 other buildings (including an administrative building) will be built, 4 water reservoirs will be renovated and beautified, existing service lines will be repaired/renovated, 1 playing field will be developed, 2 public toilets will be constructed, and drainage system and waste management will be implemented.
