Quake safety concerns prompt closure of DU and DMC

Dhaka University (DU) was declared closed for 15 days, until December 6, following safety concerns over the condition of several of its residential halls after the recent earthquakes.
As the university authorities also instructed students to vacate their halls by 5:00pm on Sunday, most students had left the premises before the deadline, though many faced difficulties because of the sudden order.
Some students, however, chose to stay in the halls, defying the directive.
The decision of closure came from an emergency meeting of the DU Syndicate held on Saturday night, which was chaired virtually by Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan.
According to a press release issued by the university's Public Relations Office, a group of BUET specialists along with DU Planning and Development Office Director Javed Alam and Chief Engineer Kazi Akram Hossain recommended a detailed inspection and risk assessment of the halls.
To conduct the evaluation and necessary repair, they advised vacating the buildings. Based on their assessment, the Syndicate decided to suspend all classes and examinations until December 6 and to empty the residential halls.
The notice further stated that the provosts were requested to take necessary measures to ensure that all students leave their halls by Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Dhaka Medical College (DMC) has announced the suspension of all academic activities until November 29 in response to safety concerns following the recent earthquakes.
The decision was made at an emergency meeting of the Dhaka University Academic Council. It also postponed all professional MBBS examinations scheduled for this period, according to a notice issued on Sunday, signed by Prof. Md Kamrul Alam, Principal of Dhaka Medical College.
The suspension aims to alleviate stress among students and provide them with an opportunity to spend time with their families, the notice explained.
Academic activities are set to resume as usual on November 30, it added.
The sudden announcement of Dhaka University's closure sparked anger among many students. Some students, who relied on part-time jobs or private tutoring to support their studies, said the decision had put them in a difficult situation.
A group of frustrated students staged a protest in front of the VC's residence on Saturday night, and returned after spending the night there.
On Sunday morning, a large number of students left their halls as per the administration's directive, while others remained undecided. The university also ordered all hall canteens and shops to shut down until further notice.
In an emergency virtual meeting of the Provost Committee at 10 am on Sunday, three decisions were approved: the students must take all their valuables with them when leaving the halls, room keys must be submitted to the hall administration, and all dining halls and canteens would remain closed until further instructions.
Swarna Das, a resident of Sufia Kamal Hall, said, "I have tutoring commitments. The sudden closure has put me in trouble. Since there's no other place for me to stay, I have no choice but to return home."
Jannatul Ferdous, a resident of Shamsunnahar Hall, said, "I am doing an internship. Suddenly asking us to leave the hall in less than 24 hours is extremely difficult. I have no place to go in Dhaka, and I have not got leave from my office. I am now staying at a friend's house, because I have no other option."
Mahin An Nur, a Surja Sen Hall student, who is preparing for the BCS exam, said, "Forcing everyone out like this is an absurd decision. If inspections are needed, why shut the halls for so long? Many students depend on tutoring or jobs to support themselves. Where will they go? The administration should have considered the needs of the students who genuinely need to stay."

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