Accommodation crisis in the halls of residence at Dhaka University is not a new phenomenon. The 1st and 2nd year students of the university are the worst sufferers from the accommodation crisis.
During a visit to 7-8 halls of the country’s leading public university, our correspondent found that 20-25 students are residing in a mass room (Gonoroom) having the capacity to accommodate 4-5 students.
In Hazi Mohsin Hall, a room (room no-1026) with eight seats remain overcrowded with 19 students. The scenario is the same in almost all the halls of the university.
In Sir A F Rahman Hall, 26 students are residing in each room having the capacity to accommodate eight students. In Bijoy Ekattor Hall set up in 2013, more than 120 students are residing in Gonoroom. In Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, 26 students are residing in a single room.
A student residing in a gono room of Mohsin Hall (extension) told the Bangladesh Post said, “We are suffering a lot due to the ongoing extreme heat. Our’s is a tin-roofed structure and that’s why temperature always remain high. Nineteen students reside in a room having the capacity for 4-6 students. It is quite difficult to reside here, but we have no alternative.”
It should be mentioned that according to DU Hall website, the total number of rooms in Haji Mohsin Hall is 393 having the capacity to accommodate 1,286 students. However, a total of 2,590 resident and non-resident students are residing there. The total number of rooms in Sir AF Rahman Hall is 104 with accommodation facilities for 504 students, but more than 1,893 students are residing in these rooms.
A student of Sir A F rahman Hall said, “We 24-25 people reside in one room. We find it very difficult to sleep at night in the room. If anybody comes to the room after 11 o'clock, he cannot get accommodation. There is no enough space in the room to keep our books. Our study is being seriously hampered due to the situation.”
A student residing in gono room at Bijoy Ekattor Hall said, “staying here reminds us of the suffering of the people at Hitler's concentration camp. There is no enough ventilation. There is a fumes of hundreds of people enclosed in four walls which reminds us of the plight of the refugees and oppressed people who are trapped in the concentration.”
When I contacted Dhaka University Provost Standing Committee (PSC) President Professor Dr. Iqbal Rauf Mamun, he ( Dr Iqbal) said as far as I know there is no gono room room in any hall of Dhaka University.
“He, however, told me to inform him if I have received information on the matter. “It will be discussed later.” Despite repeated attempts, our correspondent could not reach Dhaka University Chhatra League General Secretary tanbir Hasan Saikat over phone.
