The chief of the management body of Adhar Chandra Model High School in Savar has declared its century-old building abandoned without any structural test, raising questions.

The announcement particularly disturbed former students who formed a long human chain on the campus yesterday, and said they would not let the historic building be demolished.

Several thousand students joined the protest, also urging the government to preserve the 102-year-old edifice.

Md Nazrul Islam Manik Mollah, chairman of the school management committee, made the announcement at a press conference on August 4.

Fearing its demolition, several thousand ex-students formed a human chain, on the campus yesterday. Photo: Rashad Ahamad

He did not take opinions of any expert beforehand, said sources.

Manik Mollah is the general secretary of Savar municipality unit of the Awami League.

Harun-or-Rashid, the school's former acting headmaster, said Hindu landlord Rakhal Chandra Saha donated seven acres of land for the school but later 2.5 acres was given to Savar College.

"At least 67 decimals of land with a house of the school has already been grabbed by one Mintu Mollah beside the school. The school authorities are running a case over it," he said.

Mintu Mollah is the elder brother of the school's management committee chief Manik Mollah.

Abdul Halim, one of the 10 members of the management committee including its head, said the committee chairman declared the building abandoned as an emergency measure. "He didn't call any meeting; rather he talked to some members personally," he said.

A member of the committee, Tofazzol Hosen, told The Daily Star yesterday that he did not know anything about the decision.

Headmaster Ratan Peter Gomez said, "We will call experts from Buet, the upazila education engineering section, and archeology department of the government immediately."

Ashraf Uddin Khan Emu, former MP and an alumnus of the school, said some musclemen under political patronage had already grabbed Rakhal Chandra's properties.

"Now the gang is planning to occupy the historic school's property," he said.

The committee chairman, Manik Mollah, said it was declared abandoned for safety. "If experts call the building safe, we will open it," he said.

Masud Rana, a student of the class of 1996 which organised the human chain, said the school committee should rather preserve the building in memory of Rakhal Chandra.

The school has three buildings including the century-old one, which accommodates 500 of the total 2,000 students, of class VI to X, of the high school.

It was built in 1913.