Dhaka, Oct 14 (BDNEWS) – October 15 is a tragic day in the history of Dhaka University (DU) as on that day the roof of the dilapidated building of the Jagannath Hall TV room caved in leaving 39 students, guests and employees of the University dead and 300 others injured in 1985.
October 15, the clock struck half past eight. The TV room of the Jagannath Hall overflowed with a huge crowd beyond its accommodation capacity as Manan Adhikari, a fellow student of the Hall, was one of the performers of the popular drama 'Shuktara' that was being screened on BTV then.
Prabir Kumar Sarker who was a student then at the Geology Department of the Dhaka University told BDNEWS travelling the memory lane, I was like others sitting in the TV room to watch the drama. After a while Ranjit, a senior friend of mine, sat a bit away from me as he had not found any room beside me.
My eyes were glued to the TV screen, Prabir continued, as I felt water on my hand falling from somewhere. I Got nothing first of all as I looked up at the ceiling but a moment later I looked up again and found the roof caving in. I hardly managed any time before it collapsed.
A guest was sitting next to me; he went on, who is a school teacher. In the wink of an eye a very big, a huge beam of iron fell on him with a big bang. Later, I came to know he had died on the spot.
As I was trying to lift myself I found layers of bricks and iron on my left side and layers of beam on my left hand and eyes. It was a daunting task really to stand removing things all around me, he said.
I was gradually feeling choked before I lost my sense. After five to seven minutes, I guess, when I regained my sense I heard groaning and moaning all around me. The only word from all around echoed and re-echoed was 'Banchao', 'Banchao' (Save). I could see everything but I could not speak, he said.
After that, all including Prabir were taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) that also could not accommodate all the injured who filled the air heavy with lament and groaning.
Prabir was later taken to the Mitford Medical College Hospital, as DMCH could not cope up with the injured. About one and a half month he had to undergo treatment there. The full left side of his body had a wound that took almost one and a half month to heal.
After his all bandages were removed a swollen tendon was detected on the left side of one of his eyes. He had to undergo operation. Excessive screaming and pressure caused blood clot.
Operation was performed successfully but he had to suffer from the hangover for quite a long time. Very often he had to be out of memory. As a result, he could not continue his education though his academic year ended in 1984-85. He had to be readmitted in the next session.
Prabir said, "My close friends Ranjit Roy and Tushar Das died on the spot. Many more were wounded including Rabindranath Barui in the roof collapse. Still I am carrying the insufferable memory on my body.
The University authorities arranged jobs for eight of the injured. Of them six joined their jobs.
BDNEWS/1730 hrs
