Shikder Manowara Bhaban at the Bangladesh-Kuwait Moitri Hall.Photo: STAR

A newly constructed three-storey building meant for nearly one hundred female students of Dhaka University (DU) remains unused as connections of gas, water and sewerage are yet to be given, four months into the completion of its construction.
Starting in 2006, the construction work of Sikder Monowara Bhaban at the Bangladesh-Kuwait Moitri Hall was finished in February this year with suspension of work for over one year, said DU officials.
Sikder Medical College of Sikder Group donated the dormitory.
“We will be able to accommodate nearly 95 students on the first and second floors once the connections of gas, water and sewerage are fixed,” hall provost Prof Farida Begum said, adding that there will be an auditorium on the ground floor.
A number of house tutors of the hall said these utility connections were not set up because the DU administration and Sikder Group remain undecided as to who will do it.
While DU administrators say Sikder Group will set up the connections, Sikder Group representatives say it is the responsibility of the DU administration.
Sikder Group Chairman Zainul Haque Sikder donated the fund under condition to name it after his wife Monowara Sikder, DU officials said.
Sikder Group engineer Kamrul Huda, however, said DU administration willingly decided to name it as Sikder Monowara Bhaban.
On the ongoing situation, DU Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique told The Daily Star that construction of the building began under the previous administration and that the current administration is unaware about its deed.
Hall provost Farida Begum is also in the dark about the contract. “I just want the rest of the work is completed so the students can stay there,” she said.
Sikder Group engineer Kamrul Huda told The Daily Star that there was no deed whatsoever for the construction of the building that cost nearly Tk 2 crore.
The VC, however, said he would arrange a meeting with Sikder Group representatives to decide on the unfinished work.
House tutors and resident students of Bangladesh-Kuwait Moitri Hall said they have an acute accommodation crisis. “We have arranged accommodation for 45 students in three rooms because of seat crisis,” said a house tutor preferring not to be named.
They also said they could not accommodate all the students of 2007-08 session while request for accommodation from the students of the current session is pilling up.