Ctg Polytech bldgs may collapse any time

Chittagong Polytechnic Institute, top, a wretched wall with cracks, bottom left, and an abandoned workshop, right. PHOTO: Zobaer Hossain Sikder

The workshops were used for practical classes of civil engineering and power (auto- diesel) while the five buildings, including the principal's bungalow, housed 48 families.

The inmates of the buildings, including those of 12 instructors, were moved to eight other dormitories and rented houses outside the campus.

The practical classes of the civil and power workshop buildings are now being held at eight other workshop buildings, which are also in almost the same condition.

The Institute, set up on 35 acres of land in 1962, has 10 workshops, five student dormitories, one for females, and 12 three-storey buildings for its staffs.

A total of 1,700 students attend classes under the age-old buildings, risking their lives, said the students while talking to this correspondent.

The institute offers technical education under six trades -- Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Power (Auto Diesel), Electronics and Computer -- in two shifts.

Md Anwar Hossain, acting principal of the institute, said "We have informed the authorities concerned about the situation without any result."

But, our concerns remain unheeded forcing the teachers, staffs and students to live in the quarters and buildings at great risk, he said.

"We fear a major casualty at any moment when the technical education board authorities remained indifferent to the problems," he said. "The buildings badly need renovation or even the repair work," he added.

The other teachers and staffs of the institute also expressed the same view.

They said the walls and roofs of the buildings have been soggy, leaking water inside for long.

"The buildings, where we have been shifted now, are also in same dilapidated condition and might collapse or cave in during earthquake of any magnitude."

They urged the authorities concerned for immediate measures for renovation of the buildings and construction of new staff quarters, dormitories and classes rooms.

Besides, the dilapidated buildings are also causing damage to the valuable machinery and equipment of the institute as the rainwater pours or seeps through the roofs and walls, they said.

In addition, members of the 32 Ansar Battalion have been using one of the students dormitories for years, worsening the housing problem of the students and staffs, they said. The Ansar forces were not posted to look after the security of the institute, they added.