Tk 130m University Lifts Become Source of Fear for Students

At Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, 15 lifts installed at a cost of about Tk 130.6 million have become a source of concern for students, teachers and staff, with several reportedly suffering prolonged breakdowns and safety-related malfunctions.

University sources said the 15 ANA 550 lifts, imported from Switzerland, were installed in 2021 at the Business Administration and Social Science faculty buildings and at Shiwlimala and Bidrohi residential halls. Nine lifts were installed in the two residential halls and six in the two faculty buildings.

Several lifts in the faculty buildings have reportedly experienced frequent mechanical problems since installation. Four of the six lifts serving the Social Science and Business Administration faculties are often out of service, leaving more than 5,000 students, along with teachers and staff, dependent on the remaining two.

The situation in the residential halls has also raised concerns. Several lifts at Shiwlimala and Bidrohi halls have reportedly remained out of service for more than a month. Even some operational lifts are said to have faulty sensors.

Students have reported lifts stopping suddenly while in motion, while emergency bells and telephones designed to summon help are also reportedly malfunctioning.

Naim Azad, a student in the Department of Law and Justice, said he was once trapped in a lift at the Social Science Faculty building with seven other students for about 40 minutes.

“Even after pressing the emergency button, we received no response,” he said. The students eventually attracted the attention of people outside by waving notebook pages through a gap in the lift door. A teacher noticed them and rescue efforts began.

Bushra Taslim, a student of Folklore, said she had been trapped in lifts three times—twice in faculty buildings and once in a residential hall.

“Sometimes the lift stopped midway because of power outages, and sometimes because of mechanical problems,” she said. “Each time, I had to wait for a long time in panic.”

Saad, a 2025-26 student in the Department of Law and Justice, described another incident in which he became trapped after a lift suddenly stopped.

He said a faulty sensor also nearly caused him to become trapped by the door while getting out. “Since then, I feel frightened whenever I get into a lift,” he said.

Operators also raise concerns

Ariful Islam, a lift operator at Bidrohi Hall, said the emergency bell and telephone in one of the lifts had been out of service for a long time.

“If someone gets trapped inside, there is no immediate way to know about it,” he said, adding that the issue had been reported to the university administration several times.

Students and other users allege that inadequate maintenance and supervision have contributed to the deterioration of the lifts despite the substantial investment in their installation.

They are calling for immediate repairs, regular maintenance and safety inspections, as well as the restoration of emergency communication systems.

The university spent more than Tk 130 million to provide safe and convenient transportation between floors. But repeated breakdowns and reported failures of safety systems have instead raised questions about the lifts' maintenance, supervision and overall safety management.