The return of control of Dhaka University (DU) halls to the DU administration, following the ouster of the Chhatra League from the campus, has brought some discipline back to the allocation of seats. However, the underlying issue of a shortage of student accommodation continues to plague the university.
Amid this shortage, some DU staff members have resorted to renting out their allocated flats to students in need of accommodation. However, this practice is far from a sustainable long-term solution and is not allowed by the university as the flats are meant to be used by the staff members they are allocated to.
An investigation conducted by a DU committee on April 30 revealed that 249 out of 560 flats allocated to university staff are being rented out, either partially or entirely. The report detailed that 49 flats are fully rented out, 69 flats have a single room rented out, and 131 flats have two rooms rented out.
These flats, located in Sheikh Russel Tower, Bangabandhu Tower, Uttar Nilkhet, Dakkhin Nilkhet, and Azimpur residential areas, are officially designated for DU staff. While DU has allocated 918 flats for staff use, the investigation did not cover all of them.
Sources within the investigation committee suggested that the number of rented flats in the unexamined areas is similarly high. Overcrowding was also highlighted, with up to 12 people reportedly sharing a single flat. Each tenant typically pays Tk 2,000–3,000 in rent.
One staff member, speaking anonymously, explained: "The two-room flats are too small for my family. So, I live elsewhere with my family and rent out this flat. This helps cover my accommodation costs while providing much-needed housing for students."
Acute accommodation crisis
DU students face a severe accommodation crisis, with most dormitories housing double their intended capacity. Male dormitories often have rooms designed for a specific number of students overcrowded, while female dormitories face similar challenges.
In some female halls, makeshift "gonorooms" (shared rooms) have been reinstated under the guise of legal seating arrangements. Female students residing in halls located outside the main campus, such as Kuwait Moitree Hall and Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall in Azimpur, frequently report harassment, commuting challenges, and a sense of isolation from campus life.
Despite these challenges, DU has prioritised staff accommodation, constructing two high-rise buildings, Sheikh Russell Tower and Bangabandhu Tower, on the main campus. However, the January-February 2024 investigation led by Fatema Binte Mostafa, DU's estate manager, revealed that many flats in Sheikh Russell Tower are either entirely or partially rented out.
Overcrowding in dormitories
The removal of students who have finished studying at the university from dormitories, following the end of the Chhatra League's control over seat allocations, slightly alleviated the crisis and led to the abolishment of gonorooms. However, the demand for seats far exceeds the supply.
In Sir A F Rahman Hall, rooms designed for four students now accommodate eight. Similar overcrowding is reported in Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall, Jaatir Janak Bangabandhu Hall, Shahid Sergeant Zohurul Huq Hall, Amor Ekushey Hall, and Jashim Uddin Hall.
Fatema Binte Mostafa said: "Of the 49 staff who rented out their flats entirely, 35 have been evicted, and their flats returned to the estate office. Additionally, 200 staff members who partially rented out their flats have been issued notices."
Land mismanagement
DU reportedly began with 650 acres of land, of which only 274 acres have been effectively utilized. Alarmingly, over 12 acres have been lost due to negligence by the estate office, while approximately 51.99 acres allotted by the government remain unused due to a lack of funding.
In 2020, DU's syndicate approved a master plan for the university, which proposed an estimated budget of Tk 9,000 crore. However, even after four years, implementation has yet to begin.
The master plan is divided into three phases. The first phase includes constructing new dormitories to replace old structures, with plans to accommodate 2,600 female students and 3,600 male students.
The acting director of DU’s Office of Planning & Development commented: "We have requested government funding for the first phase of the master plan. The allocation process is underway."
