Most CU students shuttle between city, campus

Newly constructed Deshnetri Begum Khaleda Zia Hall awaits inauguration. PHOTO: STAR

The CU has eight halls that can accommodate only one-fourth of around 16,000 students. Of 3,744 resident students, 1207 are females residing in Shamsun Nahar and Pritilata halls.

Six male halls -- Shah Jalal, Shah Amanat, Suhrawardy, Alaol, F Rahman and Abdur Rab -- accommodate 2,542 students.

The rest around 12,000 students live in different cottages on the campus or relatives' houses and messes in the Chittagong city. They face difficulties in pursuing their studies due to regular shuttle around a distance of 22 kilometres between the city and the campus.

The CU authorities admit students' sufferings due to shortage of dormitories, but appear quite indifferent to the crisis. Worst more, the newly built Begum Khaleda Zia Hall is yet to be inaugurated after completion of its construction work four months ago. The 509-room hall will lessen sufferings of the students to some extent if it is inaugurated now, students said.

Suhrawardy Hall designated for arts faculty can only accommodate 375 students while F Rahman and Alaol halls for social science faculty 516, Shah Amanat and Abdur Rab halls for science and law faculties 1141 and Shahjalal Hall for commerce faculty 475 students, sources said.

Many guardians are reluctant to enrol their wards in the university only because of accommodation problems, said Shahida Akhter, a resident student.

Besides, the female students are the worst sufferers as they can't live in cottages on the campus or hostels in the city like male students, she said. They are to stay with their relatives in the city, Shahida added.

Mohammed Ibrahim Hossain, a non-resident student, blamed the session jam in different departments for the crisis, as the students cannot leave the dormitories before completion of their studies.

Session jam is a common phenomenon in the university that increases sufferings and prevents the students from getting a seat in the halls, Ibrahim added.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr M Badiul Alam said he is contemplating initiatives to solve the problem of accommodation. He said he will raise the matter in the next senate meeting scheduled to be held in June.

Prof Badiul said Khaleda Zia Hall will be opened to the student as early as possible.