Convocation site turns into ashes

The adorned convocation site with sitting arrangements for 5,000 people of Bangladesh Agricultural University`s 57th founding anniversary. Photo: Shahiduzzaman Sagar
The adorned convocation site with sitting arrangements for 5,000 people of Bangladesh Agricultural University`s 57th founding anniversary. Photo: Shahiduzzaman Sagar

Bangladesh Agricultural University's convocation site, which was decorated with expensive materials, to hold a reunion, was burnt to ashes early Sunday.

The programme, organised to celebrate the university's 57th founding anniversary, was scheduled to be attended by the president, also chancellor of the university.

The gutted convocation site on Sunday following the fire. Photo: Shahiduzzaman Sagar
The gutted convocation site on Sunday following the fire. Photo: Shahiduzzaman Sagar

An amount of Tk 3 million was spent for making the stage and pandal at the site to celebrate the university's success in the past 57 years and also for hosting an alumni reunion.

However, the university authorities, at an emergency meeting, decided to hold the programme at another venue -- Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin auditorium -- at the campus in Mymensingh at 2:00pm Sunday.

President Abdul Hamid is still expected to attend as chief guest at the programme, the university's vice-chancellor Md. Ali Akbar said.

Within a few minutes the fire turned severe on Saturday night. Photo: Shahiduzzaman Sagar
Within a few minutes the fire turned severe on Saturday night. Photo: Shahiduzzaman Sagar

According to witnesses, around 12:00am a man saw flames over the pandal, that had sitting arrangements for 5,000 people. The fire spread out within moments.

Seven units of Mymensingh fire service rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire in an hour.

By the time the fire fighters brought the blaze under control, chairs, fans, sound system and LED screens were damaged.

“We managed to douse the blaze in an hour. The fire might have been caused by an electric short-circuit,” Mymensingh fire service and civil defence deputy director in charge Shahidur Rahman said.

The bamboos used for decoration fell down after being burnt. Photo: Shahiduzzaman Sagar
The bamboos used for decoration fell down after being burnt. Photo: Shahiduzzaman Sagar

The university vice chancellor said guests and alumni had already arrived and that is why they chose Zainul Abedin auditorium as an alternative venue.

This auditorium, however, accommodates only 2,000 people. Sitting arrangements for the rest will be made in adjacent places and a giant screen would also be set up to show the programme.

The president is also scheduled to lay foundation stone of haor and char development institution to be set up by the university's health centre.