Fire at IU’s Khaleda Zia Hall: Repair or Relocation!

Frequent short circuits, sporadic sparks of fire, and sudden power outages plunging the hall into complete darkness have become routine occurrences at Khaleda Zia Hall of Islamic University (IU). As a result, the female residents spend their days in constant fear. Many now consider staying in the hall unsafe.

A fire broke out due to a short circuit at Khaleda Zia Hall of Islamic University on Wednesday, September 4th, at 11 PM, causing the hall to plunge into darkness. Runa Laila, a student of the Political Science department (22-23 session), fainted in panic and was subsequently taken to the University Medical Center for treatment.

Dr. Md. Rabiul Islam, the doctor on duty at that time, stated, "In recent days, there have been several incidents of fires caused by short circuits. The student experienced a panic attack, but we provided first aid and sent her back to the hall. There is no cause for alarm."

Students at Khaleda Zia Hall of Islamic University have raised serious concerns over frequent short circuits, which have repeatedly led to fire incidents. Despite previous incidents, including a fire after the Eid break, the administration has not taken any significant action. Students report that they have repeatedly approached the administration, but no substantial response has been received. They have questioned, "If someone gets hurt, who will be held responsible?" The residents have demanded temporary accommodation in dormitories until the electrical issues are fully resolved, raising questions about their safety.

Responding to these concerns, the university's Acting Chief Engineer, A.K.M. Sharif Uddin, said, "We have a permanent electrician assigned to Khaleda Zia Hall. Last night, when the students raised an alarm, the electrician thoroughly checked the five-story building and found no issues. It seems the students, in their panic, had turned off the circuit breaker themselves." He further added, "This is an old building, and the current issues would require a complete rewiring of the entire building. However, for now, we have an electrician available around the clock to handle any immediate problems." 

Professor Dr. A.B.M. Siddiqur Rahman Ashrafi, senior administrator responsible for financial and administrative matters, acknowledged the incident, stating, "I am aware of last night's events. Our electrician and house tutor were present, but no faults were found. The students became ill due to fear rather than any actual danger."

Regarding the rewiring, he explained, "The engineering office has estimated the cost of the repairs to be 4.8 million BDT. However, we cannot make any decision before Saturday as the university is currently closed. I am in constant communication with the house tutor, the dean's committee, the chief engineer, and the electrician to ensure any issues are resolved immediately."

When asked about relocating the female students to dormitories, he responded, "The dormitory has space for around 40 to 50 students, but accommodating all the residents would be difficult. We are discussing possible solutions, and I hope we will reach a decision in the next working day."