DU halls no longer students’ nightmare
FROM PAGE 16
when they notice irregularities in the dorms,” said Abdul Jabber, a resident student of Surja Sen Hall.
“Earlier, if students raised their voices against the irregularities, Chhatra League leaders would interrogate and torture them in the gonoroom [guest room].”
Hafizul Islam, of the same hall, said, “Now, when a student falls ill, the hall provost even sends fruits if informed. The administration consults the students before making decisions, and the relationship between the students and administration has improved.”
Additionally, house tutors now visit the halls every month to address the students’ problems -- a practice that had been missing for a long time at DU dorms.
These tutors are responsible for students’ education and well-being, but they were rarely present before, leaving students unsure of where to turn for help.
The change is also reflected in the dormitories’ study spaces. Students now have enough space to study in the reading rooms, which were previously overcrowded with job-seekers.
“The rooms are also cleaner and better furnished now,” said Arif Hossain, a student of Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall.
Mohammad Shahin Khan, provost of Kabi Jasimuddin Hall, also acknowledged these changes.
“We can now manage the hall and distribute seats among students systematically without political interference. It was difficult before because of that interference. Now, as hall authorities, we can do our jobs properly.”
He also mentioned that canteen managers and vendors inside dorms no longer have to provide food to political leaders for free.
“I haven’t received a single complaint about this since the changes.”
POSITIVE CHANGES SPARK HOPE
From among freshers to master’s students, there is now a renewed sense of hope that campus politics will not align with students’ expectations through the positive changes and actions taking place since August 5.
The DU authorities have launched several initiatives, including a bus service for students on campus, efforts to reduce traffic on and around the campus, and measures to ensure student safety.
Meanwhile, members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement have been distributing blankets to students for the winter, as well as offering health services and computer training programmes.
Abdul Kader, a key coordinator of the platform, said, “Students were once controlled by Chhatra League. The leaders forced them to participate in rallies, meetings, and personal tasks against their will. Now, students are free from that culture. They are given the dignity they deserve. We hope this trend continues.”
Salma Nasrin, provost of Sufia Kamal Hall, said, “Positive changes are now visible. We’re now trying to solve any problems by attaching importance to the opinions of the hall’s students. No one is now forcing girls to attend political programmes. The gonorooms have been abolished. The female students now feel safe and free here.”
HALL FOOD STILL POOR
For years, low-quality food has been served in the hall canteens and students believed that this would change too.
When canteen owners were earlier questioned about the poor quality of food, they would blame BCL leaders, who would not pay for food and extort money from the canteen.
But even now,the residential students claimed the food remains the same as before.
Abdul Kader said, “It’s time to improve the quality of the food served in the halls for the sake of the students’ welfare. Even though the canteen owners have been changed, the food has not. If needed, the entire system [of canteens] will have to be changed.”