Dhaka, Nov 23 (V7N) – Students of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute spent Saturday night on the street after a series of earthquakes heightened fears that their decades-old Latif Dormitory could collapse at any moment. Following four tremors in just two days, students brought out their bedding and took shelter on the roadside, refusing to stay inside what they described as a severely dilapidated and unsafe building.

Authorities responded later in the night by ordering all four student halls to be vacated immediately. In a formal notice, the institute also suspended all classes and mid-term examinations until further instructions. Students, meanwhile, announced a boycott of classes and exams until safe housing is arranged or construction of a new dormitory begins.

Jubayer Patowary, a resident of Latif Dormitory and a central member of the Technical Student Movement, said the hall had shown cracks for years, but the situation worsened dramatically after Friday morning’s earthquake. “The building is 70 to 80 years old. New cracks appeared after Friday’s quake, and today’s two more tremors expanded the existing damage. After 8 p.m., we refused to stay inside and moved to the street with beds and pillows,” he said.

The crisis escalated as students shared images of deep cracks in walls, broken plaster and exposed iron reinforcements. Many described hearing creaking noises inside the dormitory during tremors.

On Saturday night, Dhaka Polytechnic authorities instructed the evacuation of Latif Dormitory (East and West wings), Dr. Kazi Motahar Hossain Dormitory, Zahir Raihan Dormitory, and the female dormitory, citing safety concerns.

The Latif Dormitory had already been flagged as dangerous months earlier. In June, the Education Engineering Department (EED) labeled a section of the building as “risky” and recommended urgent repairs, but no action was taken.

SM Safin Hasan, Executive Engineer of the EED’s Structural Design Division, confirmed after a fresh inspection on Saturday that the dormitory was in critical condition. “Our team found Latif Hall structurally vulnerable. The 70-year-old building has severe cracks in fourth-floor columns and beams. Plaster and concrete have fallen from multiple ceiling points, and reinforcement bars are exposed,” he said.

Hasan added that the dormitory had previously been declared risky, and the team was now preparing a formal report and recommendation to the department.

With aftershocks continuing and several parts of Dhaka reporting building damage, students demanded an immediate safety assessment of all academic buildings, rapid repair of damaged structures, and guaranteed alternative accommodation.

Fearing more tremors in the night, many students said they would continue to stay outdoors until authorities ensure their safety.

END/AJ/SMA/