Scores of DU hall rooms under illegal occupation of BCL activists

Many genuine students forced to stay in ‘mass rooms’ or outside

Daud Md Isa

Ali Haider is a student of Economics of Dhaka University and a resident of Suryasen Hall. His master's final examinations will begin from August 20. Though he has almost finished his academic life, he is officially not a legal resident of the hall as he could not manage a seat in six years of his campus life.
Now he lives in a room popularly known as 'mass room' where nearly 20 students stay against only four seats. Haider is now under stress as to how he will take his master's examination preparations living in this room.
When many masters' students stay in this kind of condition, activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) 'enjoy' their student life staying at the residential halls keeping hundreds of rooms under their occupation.
They often lock in deadly clashes over establishing control of these rooms. The latest such incident took place on Thursday when two groups of BCL activists locked in fierce clashes to take control of a room at Suryasen Hall leaving 15 students injured.
After long eight months, Suryasen Hall authorities allotted a limited number of seats to the students a month back. But sources said, more than 90 rooms of the hall were not allotted at that time as three BCL groups got 30 rooms each on 'political consideration'.
Hall Provost Prof Ashraf Uddn, however, denied the allegation saying remaining seats will also be allotted shortly. But he refused to mention any timeframe.
An anarchic situation over seat allotment has been prevailing in other residential dormitories too. No seat allotment has been made at Salimullah Muslim Hall, Jahurul Haque Hall, Bangabandhu Hall, F Rahman Hall, Jagannath Hall and Ziaur Rahman Hall in last one year.
Sources said, the student leaders have handed over a list of rooms to the hall authorities asking for making allotment in favour of them. This illegal demand has forced the hall authorities to stop allotment process causing immense sufferings to the general students.
Blaming authorities for this situation, a number of students said when genuine students are staying outside of the halls, outsiders and unauthorized students are staying there occupying the dormitories.
"To afford living outside of hall is a tough job for my poor family. So, I have no other option but to reside in a tiny room of Azimpur while outsiders are staying at the dormitories," said Hasan, a student of Zahurul Haque Hall who has been staying outside of campus since December 29 election. He also alleged BCL activists are repeatedly threatening him not to come to hall.
When contacted, DU BCL president Sohel Rana Tipu denied the allegation of BCL pressure on the hall administrations and said he does not know why the hall authorities are delaying the allotment process.
DU Pro-VC Dr Harun-or-Rashid, however, admitted the political pressures on the hall administrations.
"We have asked the hall authorities to do their duties neutrally and not to bow to any group," he told this correspondent adding, "the hall provosts were asked to allot rooms in accordance with the merit of the students."
Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique said it is the duty of the hall administration to tackle these problems. He also pledged to discuss the matter in the next provost committee meeting.