Earthquake: DU Mohsin Hall students occupy empty staff flats over fears of unsafe halls

Students of Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall at Dhaka University last night took over at least 33 empty flats in the 20-storey Swadhinota Bhaban, a residential building meant for third-class staff, after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake shook the capital.

The building has 144 flats, but construction remains incomplete and many staff members have yet to move in.

Students said they moved into the unused flats out of fear, claiming the university had ignored long-standing warnings about the unsafe condition of Mohsin Hall.

"This has been a problem for years," said third-year resident Md Ramzan, who shifted his belongings around 11:30pm. "We protested even six months ago, but nobody cared. After the earthquake, it became a matter of life and death. We are not here permanently, we only want the authorities to finally fix our hall."

Fourth-year student Robiul Islam described their daily anxiety.

"While you sleep, the ceiling could fall on your head. If staff have these comfortable flats, why must we live with such uncertainty, especially when many of them rent out their own allotted houses instead of living in them?"

The sudden occupation disrupted several staffers who had received allotments but were yet to move in.

Sheikh Ali Akkas, a senior staffer in the chief engineer's office, said he collected his key on November 17.

"I was visiting my son when colleagues informed me that students had taken over my flat. I returned around 8:00pm to find the lock broken and people inside. I had already left my rented house and was preparing to move with my family on the 30th. Now, I don't know where we'll go if the students do not leave," he said.

According to DU Estate Office, an investigation by a DU committee on April 30 last year, found that 249 of 560 flats allocated to university staff are being rented out, either fully or partially. Located in Sheikh Russel Tower, Bangabandhu Tower, Uttar Nilkhet, Dakkhin Nilkhet, and Azimpur, these flats are officially for staff use.

A staff, requesting anonymity, said to the correspondent, "A flat costs at least Tk 20,000 with bills, while our salary is only Tk 30–35,000—how could we use it ourselves but not rent it?"

Visiting Swadhinota Bhaban, each flat appears spacious, featuring two master bedrooms, one additional bedroom, and a dining area, totalling around 1,300 sq ft.

Late last night, student representatives, hall authorities, leaders of the DU Kormochari Samiti, and state officers met but could not reach a solution. Mohammad Ruhul Amin, general secretary of the Kormochari Samiti, told The Daily Star that students had assured them they would leave once their demands were addressed. "The authorities will meet us tomorrow to finalise a solution," he added.

Dr Md Serajul Islam, provost of Mohsin Hall, said the administration is exploring temporary accommodation in other halls or vacant buildings outside the campus, including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall and Jagannath Hall, as new multi-storey buildings were completed a few months ago.

Mohammad Saifullah, social welfare secretary of Mohsin Hall, stressed that students took shelter out of fear and trauma after the quake, not to occupy the building permanently. "Treat us like your own children and give us some time," he said.

Earlier yesterday, students surrounded Swadhinota Bhaban demanding it be allocated to them, alleging they lived in dangerously dilapidated halls. They issued a 30-minute ultimatum to the vice-chancellor.

"If the VC does not come within 30 minutes and allocate this building, we will move into every room," a student leader said.

Safety concerns about the halls are not new. In 2014, a Buet expert team inspected four DU halls—Masterda Surja Sen Hall, Haji Muhammad Muhsin Hall, Shahid Sergeant Zahurul Haq Hall, and Shahidullah Hall—and flagged them as risky, but little progress has been made since.