RAJSHAHI, Feb 23: Class taking of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman College in Charghat Upazila of the district is being held in deplorable and risky building.
Due to lack of repairing over the last 18 years, the academic building has been old and deplorable. According to official sources, during this long time no allocation was provided to the college because of its name.
In 1994 the college was established. The class taking was opened in tin-shed Bhaban. The college was MPO (monthly pay order) listed in 2002. It was visited by Tarique Rahman in 2004. Later on, a two-storey administrative building of four rooms was constructed.
There are 20 teachers and 11 employees in the college. Since then the building has not been repaired ever.
College authorities sent letters time and again to the government departments concerned seeking repairing allocation. But no allocation was granted.
Because of the poor condition of the college, first year students of the college have decreased to 182 from over 400 students.
A recent visit found collapses of wall bricks of the class rooms having holes on the floors; grills and doors of most of the rooms got broken. Classrooms lack adequate benches, electric lights and fans. Students attend classes in huddling in small rooms.
A second year student of Science Group Tasnim Toya said, students of other colleges take part in different competitions including science fair; but they never get invitation; sporting tools allocated for the college are given to other colleges.
Second year student Rubina Khatun of humanity group said, "Windows are broken; rain drops through holes of tin; we have to attend classes in biting cold in the winter season; and, in the absence of boundary walls, outsiders' entry is available."
Lecturer Abdul Alim said, Awami League leaders would discourage students not to admit to the college. They would be told that with certificates from the college, they would not get jobs, he added.
A Tk 1,000 is deducted from per teacher's salary per month for the development of the college.
College Principal Md Ayen Uddin said, "We are teachers. We don't do politics. Teachers and employees would fear to introduce them. By intimidating in the name of filing cases, it was tried to change the college name. Despite many problems, we have protected the college. Now we seek efforts from non-partisan government for protecting the college by giving development allocation."
Upazila Secondary Education Officer Sohel Hossain said, "No allocation was given to the college in the last 18 years. An allocation proposal for modern building, digital lab and others has been sent to the ministry concerned. If allocation is granted, the development work of the college will begin."
