Dhaka University (DU) marked 40 years since the devastating Jagannath Hall tragedy on Wednesday, yet numerous residential halls continue languishing in perilous conditions, leaving students living in perpetual fear.
The 15 October 1985 disaster claimed 40 lives, including students, teachers and guests, when the Assembly Building roof collapsed during light rain and stormy winds, injuring over 100 people.
More than 200 individuals had gathered that fateful evening to watch popular television drama Shuktara at the building, then known as Pakistan Parliament Building.
Just as the programme commenced, the roof suddenly gave way under accumulated rainwater, transforming the assembly hall into a scene of horror and bloodshed. Panicked survivors fled desperately as the structure crumbled, creating a tragedy that continues haunting witnesses four decades later.
Rabindra Mohan Das, who survived and witnessed the collapse, recalled the traumatic incident with visible distress.
"That evening it was drizzling and windy. The roof couldn't withstand the weight of the rainwater and collapsed. I saw so much blood that day; even now, my chest tightens and I lose words when I try to speak about it. The cries of people are still ringing in my ears. I was injured too," he said, voice trembling with painful memories.
Despite annual Mourning Day observances honouring victims, multiple residential halls, including Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, Salimullah Muslim Hall, Fazlul Huq Hall and Shahidullah Hall, exhibit alarming deterioration.
Students reported living in constant anxiety as beams, ceilings and nearly every structural element display significant decay, mirroring conditions that precipitated the 1985 catastrophe.
Mohammad Javed Alam Mridha, Director of Planning and Development Department, acknowledged the troubling situation whilst explaining bureaucratic constraints.
"Maintenance of old buildings is a time-consuming process. There are also several complications when it comes to getting budget approvals," he explained, highlighting administrative hurdles impeding necessary renovations.
University authorities emphasised their inability to bypass standard government procedures when implementing infrastructure projects, despite urgent safety concerns.
The institutional framework requires adherence to established protocols for budget allocation and project approval, creating delays in addressing critical maintenance needs.
Students residing in these deteriorating structures face daily uncertainty about their safety, questioning whether lessons from the 1985 tragedy have genuinely influenced university infrastructure policies. The anniversary serves as a stark reminder that institutional memory must translate into concrete action protecting student welfare.
NRE/NSA
