Students allege
Stale food still being served at RU halls
Students of Rokeya Hall of Rajshahi University confront the university proctor on March 13 as 16 residents fell sick after taking meal at the dormitory. Serving of unhygienic and substandard food in the dining halls has continued despite repeated complaints to the authorities, students alleged. File Photo: Star
Resident students of Rajshahi University are being served 'unhygienic and substandard' foods in the dining halls allegedly due to indifference of the authorities. Students allege that stale foods, dusts and insects are often found in the dining halls, posing serious health risk. Despite repeated complaints, the authorities concerned did not pay heed to the problems, a number of them said. The female resident students of Rokeya Hall recently confined the university proctor and the hall provost after more than 30 fell sick following intake of unhygienic food at the dinning hall. Most of the victims were admitted to the university medical centre. Later, the angry students vandalised the provost's office, demanding investigation into the incident and improvement of the standard of foods. A number of students alleged that the dining halls of different dormitories have turned into haven for rat, cockroach and other insects due to their unhygienic conditions. Enayet Karim, a resident student of Sher-e-Bangla Hall, alleged that remains of a rat were found in the curry on December 7, 2010. Following the incident, Motihar police arrested two employees of the dormitory, said another resident student Abdul Matin. Protesting the food situation, the resident students of 11 male dormitories in 2010 also boycotted the dining halls for a week. Following the boycott programme, the authorities increased the meal charge by Tk 5 in the name of serving quality food, but no major change took place in this regard as yet, alleged students. Sources said the meal charge at dining halls of all the 16 dormitories is now Tk 20 at noon and Tk 16 at night. Refuting the allegations, Jamal Uddin, dining hall manager of Shaheed Habibur Rahman Hall, said they always tried to keep healthy atmosphere there. "We can not serve the quality foods always as the meal charge is not enough for that purpose," he added. Dr Mirza Wajed Hossain Baig, chief of the university medical centre, said a number of students who come to the centre often suffer form various food borne diseases. Prof Shahid Iqbal, convener of RU hall provost council, said the authorities would take steps to improve the quality of foods after investigating the overall situation.
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