Dhaka's Dhamrai Government College has not got any dormitory or student residence even in 52 years of its establishment. As a result, the children of poor families who come from far away are forced to spend extra money to live in rented houses.
According to college sources, Dhamrai Government College was established on 6.6 acres of land in Dhamrai Thana Road area on July 1, 1972. Presently, there are Bachelor (Honours) and Post Graduate courses in eight subjects including XI, XII, and degree pass courses. Around 30% of 15,500 students are females.
Apart from different areas of Dhamrai, students from different places like Ashulia, Savar, Mirzapur of Tangail, Kaliakair of Gazipur and Saturia of Manikganj come to study in the college.
An old, abandoned building and a tin house adjacent to the college were once used for accommodation. But they were not official hostels either. Apart from this, the educational institution has not got any accommodation for the students in all these years.
Students and teachers of the college say that students come from far and wide to study here. As there is no residential facility in the college, many rent messes and houses in the surrounding areas. Being an industrial area, these rental properties are very expensive. As a result, many people are continuing their studies in difficult circumstances due to the extra money spent.
Four college students live in a rented house in Thana Road area of Dhamrai. Among them, Azad Hossain, a student of the Bengali department, said every month, the four of them spend a total of Tk20,000 per month for mess rent, gas and food. If there was a college hostel, it would have cost much less.
The leaders of the student organization also demanded to solve the housing crisis of ordinary students. President of the college unit Chhatra League. Saidul Islam Piyas said: “Students coming from far and wide are suffering due to lack of accommodation. Thinking about them, we have made a demand to the administration. The MP is also aware of the matter. He also said to take action. The college administration is also trying.”
Monir Hossain, president of Dhaka District Students' Union said: "Students are in extreme suffering and hardship. The student union has been making this demand for a long time. We have given the memorandum. I demand to take quick measures to solve the housing crisis.”
Assistant Principal of the college Professor Md Ziaul Haque said: "A letter has been sent to the authorities concerned seeking allocation for the dormitory. The local MP is also sincere about the issue. We hope that an initiative will be taken soon to reduce the suffering of the students.”
Principal Professor Salim Akand said: "We got the project. But due to the land crisis we could not do it. Land is hard to come by in Dhamrai. As a result, it was not possible. We have applied for the new category. New academic buildings and teachers are needed. We are trying sincerely.
