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Life under crumbling roofs

BM College dorms in dilapidated state

M JAHIRUL ISLAM Jewel, from Barisal
Crumbling ceiling, decaying walls and broken window panels and doors narrate the risky living conditions at the dormitories of Govt BM College, Barisal.
Several thousand students of the century-old institution stay in the residential halls of the college, which have now turned dilapidated due to a lack of proper maintenance.
Among those, the Mahatma Ashwini Kumar Hall, which accommodates around 4,000 students, is in need of renovation.
The dormitory, established in 1964, is comprised of four buildings. Of those, three have become decrepit and risky for students who reside there.
"A minor earthquake can cause a catastrophe," said Rafiqul Islam, the hostel's superintendent.
There are 93 rooms in the four buildings. One of the buildings of the hall was recently renovated but others need massive repair works, said the superintendent. He said the executive engineer of Education Engineering Department (EED) of Barisal has assured him of taking necessary steps.
While visiting the dormitory recently, this correspondent saw that all the rooms of three buildings were severely damaged with chunks of plaster falling from the ceiling
and walls. Many of the windows and doors were also damaged.
Many bathroom doors were broken while many did not have doors at all.
Shafiul Islam, a resident student, said two of his roommates were recently injured after plasters from the ceiling fell on them.
If they had more money, they would have left the hostel and stayed outside for safety, said many students.
The college has five hostels including one for female students. All of those have multiple buildings, but most are in derelict conditions, they added.
The students alleged that even after repeated requests to repair the dormitories, the college authorities did very little in this regard.
In addition, female students have to suffer more as they continue to face accommodation crisis. Some female students said they have already stopped living at the hostel.
Contacted, Principal Shafiqur Rahman acknowledged the problem. "I'm regularly contacting the executive engineer in this regard," he added. "They lack funds for renovation," the principal said.
When asked, Jahangir Hossain, EED executive engineer, said they have already notified the education ministry about the fund crisis. "Hopefully we will have funds soon,” he added.