There is no restriction on cooking beef at the private mess of Syed Amir Ali Hall of Rajshahi University (RU), authorities said on Saturday, criticizing rumours on social media.
Sources say beef has not been cooked in the halls of the university for a long time after some Hindu students of another hall were given beef in the name of providing mutton.
Recently, the Muslim students of the dormitory made a demand to the hall administration that they want to eat beef in Sehri during the month of Ramadan. Although the administration allowed them, the Hindu students opposed it.
Later, the administration sat with the students of both religions. It was decided that beef would not be cooked at the dining mess based on the opinions and reasoning of the students from both religions. But the decision was not given in written form.
However, the issue spread differently on social media where some Facebook pages, including Friday Post and Campusian 2.0, spread rumours that beef is banned in the whole university.
Later, the administration decided to provide beef in the dining mess for the month of Ramadan. The latest decision was taken after another discussion on Friday, and this time over 200 students were present at the meeting.
According to the decision, on the day when the beef will be cooked, all the utensils, including pots and pans, will be brought on rent and the additional cost will be borne by the hall administration.
There is no canteen at the hall which is usually run by private companies. The dining halls are usually run by the hall authorities, but the one in Syed Amir Ali Hall is now controlled by the students of the hall and they have named it Isabel Catering.
The entire procedure there is controlled by students themselves: here the students themselves hold discussions on what will be cooked and who will buy the grocery items. Students manage it by appointing managers from among themselves. However, the process is overseen by the hall administration.
Earlier, in Shaheed Habibur Rahman Hall, the Hindu students found a mixture of chicken and beef for lunch during the month of Ramadan. The students also protested the matter. Later, the Hindu students also formed a human chain demanding that the authorities ensure sanctity since the Sanatan followers cannot eat beef as per religious rules.
Last year, a Hindu student was given beef in the guise of mutton in the canteen of SM Hall. Later, various controversies arose about this incident.
To avoid all these controversies and incidents, the RU administration had decided against serving beef at the dining of Syed Amir Ali Hall. However, it generated discussion and criticism across the country through social media. In view of the matter, the latest meeting was called on Friday.
The provost of Syed Amir Ali Hall, Prof AKM Mahmudul Haque, on Saturday said since this hall has only one dining room, therefore, it becomes very difficult to cook separately, and eat separately.
“Therefore, the decision was taken in terms of everyone's opinion in the meeting. As per the decision, beef will be cooked in the month of Ramadan. However, on the day the beef is to be cooked, utensils will be brought from outside and the cost will be borne by the administration.”
He mentioned that this decision has been taken only for the month of Ramadan. “Now if the students want to eat beef regularly, the administration will buy all the necessary utensils.”