The University Centre compound of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology was not opened for use one year after the formal inauguration of the complex.
Though the university authorities did not take step to allot rooms of the center to the enlisted organisations of teachers and students, an entire unit on the ground floor of two-storey building has already been rented to a state-owned bank at the compound, campus sources have said.
Besides, 7 out of a total of 15 units and rooms have also been occupied by different offices of the university administrations and teachers.
Construction of the originally planned three-storey University Centre begun on April 11, 2011 and the work of up to two-storey was completed in August 2012 at a cost of Tk 4.93 crore.
‘The centre was inaugurated hurriedly on December 4, 2012 before it was formally handed over to the university authorities by the engineering department of university,’ an official said.
The sources have claimed that cracks have developed in the plasters of different walls and pillars of the building by the time.
Besides, substandard woods have been used in preparing the doors and windows of the building, the sources have alleged.
Talking to New Age, activists of the different cultural forums on the campus expressed their concern over allotting space as seven out of 15 units and rooms have already been occupied by different organisations.
Of the 7 units, 3 have been occupied by the university officers’ association, student affairs adviser office and proctor office while 4 have been occupied by the teachers’ association and university research centre, two units each, the campus sources said.
‘Only five rooms have been left for more than 20 enlisted organisations of the university students as three more units will be allotted for the compound office, conference room and canteen of the University Centre,’ a cultural activist claimed.
SUST construction work oversee committee member Zahir Bin Alam said after inspecting the building he would submit a report as to if there was any fault in the building construction.
‘The environment of the University Centre would be in a mess if the offices of teachers’ association, research centre and cultural and music organisations were housed in the compound,’ he commented.
Being contacted, SUST vice-chancellor Aminl Haque Bhuiyan told New Age that the building was not yet handed over by the university engineering and planning department.
‘All issues, including room allocation, would be monitored after it would be received formally by the university administration,’ the vice-chancellor said.
SUST engineering and planning department chief Habibur Rahman, however, alleged that the university administration was making delay in receiving the compound.
-With New Age input
