More than 150 students of Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall at Dhaka University spent the night in a staff residential building after Friday’s powerful earthquake, demanding the construction of a new hall building.

Despite holding discussions with the university administration until 1:30am, the students continued their occupation of the staff quarters as they did not receive any concrete assurance about a new building.

Dr Sirajul Islam, Provost of Mohsin Hall, said students were afraid to stay in the hall following the earthquake. Vice-Chancellor Niaz Ahmed Khan instructed authorities to temporarily shift them to other halls, he added.

“The hall will be rechecked and if everything is safe, students will be notified to return. However, staying in the staff building was not permitted—students are staying there for the moment out of fear,” he said.

Jahid Uddin Himel, reading room secretary of the hall union, said around 150 students stayed overnight in the staff quarters.

“Many chose to spend the night here as there was no assurance of a new building,” he said.

A visit to the 10-storey staff residential building adjacent to Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Haq Hall found students occupying vacant flats, while staff members continued living in the flats they were already assigned.

M Saifullah, social welfare secretary of the hall union, said, “We are not going back to what we call the death trap Mohsin Hall. We won’t leave unless we are given a safe alternative residence outside Mohsin Hall. Verbal assurances will not work.”

Earlier in the afternoon, students locked the gate of the staff quarters and staged a demonstration demanding reconstruction of the hall. Around 2pm, they padlocked the staff flats. 

The Vice-Chancellor, Treasurer and Proctor visited the spot and tried to calm the students, but the protesters refused to withdraw.

A second round of discussions between students and the administration at around 11pm also ended without a resolution.

Friday’s earthquake—the deadliest in decades—killed 10 people in three districts and injured more than 600. Several buildings in Dhaka developed cracks or tilted, and a few students at Dhaka University were also reported injured.

The 5.7-magnitude quake struck at 10:38am, with its epicentre at Madhabdi in Narsingdi.