In recent days, Dhaka University’s Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) has been a hub of activity, with volunteers working tirelessly to collect relief for flood victims.
However, the scene was noticeably different on Thursday afternoon, with fewer volunteers present compared to previous days.
While the TSC had seen a significant number of volunteers and donors from morning to evening earlier in the week, Thursday saw a dip in both.
According to some students, the reduction in volunteers was due to the removal of external volunteers after a disagreement with Dhaka University students the previous day.
"We come to TSC often, and the number of volunteers today (Thursday) is much less than on other days. We don't know the reason, but we fear this will delay the transportation of relief to the flood-affected areas," said Shaikh Abu Hasib, a retired employee of an international organization.
His wife added: "It is really painful that due to a lack of sufficient manpower and trucks, relief is not reaching the flood victims in time."
Despite the reduced volunteer presence, the impact on fundraising efforts at TSC was not much affected. Between 8am and 2pm on Thursday, approximately Tk2,726,128 was collected at the TSC booth alone. However, the total amount collected for the day was not immediately available.
"The donations haven’t decreased. The crowd seems a bit smaller than on other days, but we have two other donation spots," said Israt Jahan Sumona, a volunteer working at the TSC fund collection booth.
Tasnim Tahmid, a co-coordinator who briefed the press on Thursday, was unable to provide a complete tally of the funds raised.
Reports of misbehaviour by external volunteers have surfaced among Dhaka University students.
Sulayman Hossain, a student from the 2022-23 session of the law department, reported being attacked by a mob at TSC on Wednesday evening.
He was saved by people he knew and confirmed the involvement of external volunteers.
In the days prior, several posts about volunteer misconduct were published in "Dhaka University Shikkharti Poribar," a Facebook group for DU students.
"The volunteers may have overstepped, but they were doing charity work and probably thought they were just fulfilling their duties. I’m a coordinator of the movement myself, but I was also stopped several times. That doesn't mean I'll create a scene because they won't let me into my own university," said Tahmid Al Muddassir Chowdhury, a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
"I think we need to move beyond this identity of Dhaka University versus outsiders and appreciate people for their work. When people from all walks of life are coming to help, we should focus on their hard work and intentions rather than their mistakes," he added.
When asked about the impact of fewer volunteers, Naomee Noshin, a DU student and volunteer in the relief collection program, said: "The departure of external volunteers has significantly increased the workload on those remaining. Those from our campus won't do anything but post on Facebook. We are forced to convince rickshaw pullers to come to work with us."