Observance of Jagannath Hall tragedy day - 15 October 1985
On the occasion of Jagannath Hall Tragedy Day 15th October, today Jagannath Hall Alumni Association UK arranged a Memorial Meeting
We heard the tragic stories from some of the students of that time.
For the first time after the liberation war of 1971, out of sympathy, the citizens of Dhaka city stood in a line at night for hours after hours in order to donate blood for the injured. It was a rare scene.
Among us brother Samir was one of the severely injured. Hearing his tremor rising speech, we came to imagine the amount of hardship the injured students had to go through.
History
(38 years ago, on this day, 39 people died from the collapse of the roof of the TV room of Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University around 9pm. Among the dead, there were 25 students, 15 employees and guests.
On this day of 1985, several hundred students were watching the popular serial ‘Shuktara’ on Bangladesh Television. Suddenly the weak roof of the TV room collapsed. 38 persons died on spot. Then this number increased to 39. The collapsed building of Jagannath Hall was built in 1921. It became highly dangerous even before the collapse in 1985.
On 15th October 1985 around 8:45pm, 39 students, visitors and employees who were to return home the next day for the vacation of Durga Puja died there. About 300 people were also injured from this accident.
Suddenly, there came about a hellish atmosphere. Within moments, the TV room became a ruin. The 68 years old cement-plaster collapsed due to the rain water. Meritorious lives were pressed down under the pile of bricks, rods, wood grids and cement-plasters.
The news of this incident of the highest school of the country, Dhaka University was spread all over within moments. The students of the other hall came to the rescue immediately. A long line could be seen in front of all the hospital of Dhaka city for the purpose of blood donation. – Collected)
