A Dhaka University student was severely injured early Tuesday when a large chunk of plaster fell from the ceiling onto his head while he was sleeping at Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall.
The incident occurred at about 1:30am in room no-204.
The injured, Masud Hasan, sustained two head injuries, one of which was particularly deep. He was sleeping alongside his roommate, Farhad Jobayer, when the plaster collapsed. A mosquito net over the bed helped reduce the impact, potentially preventing more severe injuries.
Following the incident, students staged a protest in front of the vice chancellor鈥檚 residence.
Later, at about 2:00pm Tuesday, they organised a brief rally at the base of the anti-violence Raju Memorial Sculpture and submitted a memorandum to DU VC at 4:00pm.
Pro-vice-chancellor of the university Sayema Haque Bidisha received the memorandum on behalf of the VC.
In the memorandum, the students highlighted recurring incidents of plaster falling in Mohsin Hall. They pointed out that during the 2023 earthquake, significant portions of the ceiling plaster collapsed in most rooms, causing injuries. While some repairs were made, the plaster began deteriorating again shortly thereafter.
The students demanded the immediate construction of a new building for the historic Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall.
Hall provost Mohammed Nazmul Ahsan acknowledged the hall鈥檚 deteriorating condition, noting its age and damage from previous earthquakes.
鈥榃e plan to construct a new building and seal off hazardous rooms. Additionally, hall allotments may be halted for the next one to two years to ensure safety,鈥� he added.