The New Nation - Internet Edition

Md Jamal Uddin

A row over the naming of a female hall has stalled the construction work of the proposed dormitory of Dhaka University.

A total of Tk 21 crore has been allocated for the construction of a female hall and the development work of Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall in 2006.

The government has so far released Tk 6.15 crore in two phases and the remaining allocation will be released after the beginning of the construction work.

If the construction work of the dormitory does not begin within June 2009, the money of Annual Development Project will have to be returned, said an official of the university.

Sources said former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, also BNP Chairperson, announced the construction of a 500-seat female hall on the Railway land opposite Curzon Hall in 2003 to reduce the female students` seat crisis.

According to the announcement, the Senate meeting of the university on June 28 in 2005 had passed the proposal to build a new hall for the female students named after Begum Khaleda Zia.

Despite repeated government reminders the construction work remained stalled due to the grouping of teachers, sources said.

A section of the university teachers blamed the Vice Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz for not taking necessary steps in this regard being influenced by some pro-Awami League Blue Panel teachers.

They claimed that the authority should start the work of the dormitory named after Begum Khaleda Zia.

Prof SMA Faiz said, "The incomplete eviction drive on the land is hampering the construction work not the naming of the hall. Because, our main target is to build a hall for the female students to ease seat crisis."