The New Nation - Internet Edition

Jamal Uddin Jami

Government, non-government and corporate bodies have decided to donate some Tk 263.49 crore to the Dhaka University fund to solve the students and teachers` accommodation problem, increase research and other facilities of the university.

The Government will allocate directly Tk 188.59 crore and Tk 45 crore through University Grants Commission (UGC). Besides, Japanese government and Dutch Bangla Bank will donate Tk 30 crore.

Sources said the government is approving the projects of the university on a priority basis as Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin will visit Dhaka University (DU) to inaugurate the Senate Building on April 10.

Of the amount, Tk 40.39 crore will be spent on construction of a 10-storyed new residential hall for 1,000 male students, Tk 29.24 crore for female students, Tk 28.62 crore for a 12-storeyed tower building for the teachers, Tk 11.81 crore for F Rahman Hall extension building and Tk 11.88 crore for TSC complex, sources confirmed.

However, Tk 6.75 crore was recently approved to increase food subsidy, sports and vehicle facilities. Of them, Tk 2.50 crore will be spent on food subsidy to the students, Tk 3 crore for sports and cultural facilities and Tk 1.25 crore for buying three new vehicles and repair. Besides, the university authority decided to build a tower of 66 flats for the young teachers at Babupura with their own fund.

The government will also allocate Tk 27 crore for scholarships of the DU teachers while Dutch Bangla Bank is donating Tk 1 crore for constructing research building and Japan is donating Tk 20 crore for making a Centre of Excellence.

The new dormitories in the name of Moulana Bhasani will be made at the location situated between Surja Sen and Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall and female hall for 500 students will be constructed in front of the Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall.

It is learnt that the university authority will get possession of the Atomic Energy Commission compound situated adjacent to TSC by April as per the deed of the commission with the government.

Vice-Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz urged the rich people and corporate bodies of the country to extend their hand side-by-side with the Government to develop the education of the university.

He told journalists that the Government took some significant decisions to meet the demand of the university despite its financials limitations.

He hoped that the government would approve the projects of the university before the arrival of the Chief Advisert on the campus.