Since independence scores of buildings have been constructed without taking into consideration any aesthetic value of the campus. In the process crores of taka has been spent for construction that wiped out valuable collection of trees, open spaces and playgrounds. DU's glory of open space and greenery is constantly being plundered.

DU's latest venture involves Tk 15 crore which was donated by a trust. The DU is going to build a 10-storey building for the Department of Mathematics. Between 15 and 20 big trees were chopped down on Tuesday on the green patch near Science annex building to start the construction.

Successive DU authorities in the last 30 years have eyed open spaces in the campus with greed and in total disregard for environmental aspects, said leading architects of the country.

If DU builds the building without approval they would also violate the Building Construction Act 2006, they said.

Mubasshar Hussain, president, Institute of Architect, said that DU needs a master plan immediately to stop it becoming a concrete jungle.

'Anywhere a building is constructed in the Dhaka city permission has to be sought from Rajuk, only the cantonment board is exempted from this law," he said.

"DU should have a master plan where buildings and their heights should be specified according to their locations," he said.

"DU authority is eager to start the construction as soon as possible as the project cost is to be borne by a trust. They are behaving like they would drink even poison if it is free of cost," he said.

"A bizarre building for applied physics department within the compound of Curzon Hall has destroyed the aesthetic beauty of the red brick edifice of British period," he said.

ASM Ismail, chief architect, Department of Architecture, Ministry of Works, said that a phase-wise master plan for the campus is a must to stop unnecessary extension and plundering of the aesthetic beauty of the area.

"The central library, NIPA [National Institute for Public Administration] building and lecture theatre have seen some unnecessary painting and extensions which have destroyed their original features," he said.

"An office room was made in the place of lift in lecture theatre, NIPA building, designed by noted architect Mazharul Islam, was subjected to erratic painting.

In the last 50 years no fine building was erected and the old ones were destroyed in the name of extension, he said.

"Extension of Shahidullah Hall was quite unplanned. The central library has been turned into 'a jail'. Pedestrian walkways and green spaces have disappeared in the process of haphazard extension."

"DU does not have qualified engineers. Often they are deputed from PWD," he said.

The DU authority has violated building construction rule of Rajuk by not bothering to obtain any official approval for the project.

DU's treasurer Prof Syed Abul Kalam Azad said that they should never obtain any permission from anybody. "We are a 86-year old institution whereas Rajuk is merely a child organisation. Why should we seek permission from Rajuk?," he replied when asked about the legal aspects of constructing a building in the city.

Prof Azad said that DU is a 'state within a state' so it has its own rules to approve plans and select sites.

"Do you think we should stop construction of a building because of trees?," he replied when asked about the trees felled due to proposed construction.

Pro-VC Prof AFM Yusuf Haidar in his turn said the university would replace the felled tress by planting more saplings.

"We have planted many ornamental trees in the median within our campus," he said.

SMA Faiz, DU's vice chancellor said, "When DU was founded in 1921, it had only 877 students and now we have 32,000 students but our area is the same as before so we have to accommodate them at some places."

"But we know that greenery and open space are also important. So from now on we have decided to build vertically and plan new buildings on the same place of old buildings like the DU press," he said.

"You will see that DU is greener than before as we have planted many trees over the years," he added.

The progress of making a master plan for DU is 'under process', he said.

DU is planning another 10-storey building for the social science faculty. The building is going to be constructed on the open space on the eastern side of Madhur Canteen soon, said DU sources.

The planned mathematics department building , to be erected in the vicinity of the Central Saheed Minar, should be built with respect to the sanctity of the area.

According to sources, a senior architect of DU committee expressed doubt whether the architect of the building, a Pakistani living in Dhaka, is aware of the significance of the Shaheed Minar.