It is ironic this school, renowned for producing scholars like Amartya Sen, the 1998 Nobel Laureate for economics, and many other prominent and famous personalities both from home and abroad, cannot mobilise funds to save its original building.

"The ex-students, on several occasions, verbally assured to support us financially and we are awaiting their aid," said Brother Robi Purification, headmaster of the school.

The school does not have an alumni association or fund to help out in this regard," he added.

Belgian missionaries established St. Gregory High School in 1882. Surviving the 1897 earthquake, it is among the oldest buildings of the city. The school has a total number 2,200 students, 54 teachers and houses 30 classrooms.

"The teacher-student ratio complies with the government rule where each class should have at least 60 students," said Brother Robi.

The school management and present students provide funds for its present maintenance, he said.

There are three old buildings in the school. Two among them, which were used as the laboratory and classrooms, cannot be renovated and preserved.

An Archaeology Department engineer had declared these buildings abandoned in 1998. The third, which is the main building, was renovated once in 1984 and was expected to remain fit for next 10 years.

The new buildings under construction cost Tk 5 crore of which Tk 1 crore has come from private funds of ex- students. A loan of Tk 1 crore loan was raised from the community, while Tk 3 crore was collected from student fees.

"To complete the entire project, we would need another Tk 50 lacs," said Brother Robi.

Archbishop Paulinus Costa has engaged an architect to survey the cost of the old building's reconstruction.

"But since money is required to carry out this survey, the authority of the school alone cannot continue it," the headmaster said.

Although Brother Robi desired to renovate this ancient structure, his funds are limited and they have already been invested in the new buildings.

"I cannot even estimate how much the renovation would cost, but the work is urgently needed," he said.

He claimed St. Gregory's was one of Dhaka's leading schools during the Pakistan era, but people migrated to other areas as the city developed.

This resulted in a decline of the level of students.

"However, I believe those completing their schooling here and going for higher education will continue to uphold its past glory," said the headmaster.