DU plans to build new female dorms amid accommodation crisis
This initiative comes after a hunger strike staged by a group of female students yesterday, demanding immediate measures to resolve their accommodation crisis
In a bid to address the persistent accommodation crisis for female students, Dhaka University (DU) is set to build three new female dormitories and extended buildings in two existing ones.
This initiative comes after a hunger strike staged by a group of female students yesterday, demanding immediate measures to resolve their accommodation crisis.
According to a press release issued yesterday, the administration has already submitted a proposal titled "Construction Project for Extended Buildings of Four Female Dormitories" to the government for approval, with an estimated cost of Tk2,841.86 crore.
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If approved, the project will aim to provide housing for approximately 3,000 female students.
Under the project, the Shahnewaz Hostel will be demolished to make way for a 15-storey dormitory, Staff Quarters B and D of the Leather Engineering and Technology Institute will be replaced with a dormitory consisting of 11-story and 8-story buildings for female students.
Additionally, a 10-storey and a 6-storey expansion will be added to Shamsun Nahar Hall, and Kuwait Maitree Hall will also see the addition of a 10-story extended building.
Additionally, the proposed "Bangladesh-China Maitree (Friendship) Hall," to be funded by the Chinese government at an estimated cost of Tk244 crore, awaits ministry approval.
During a university event yesterday, China's Ambassador to Bangladesh, Yao Wen, reiterated China's commitment to supporting the construction of these dormitories.
Protests Over Accommodation Crisis
A group of DU female students gathered in front of the Vice-Chancellor's residence yesterday and began a hunger strike demanding necessary measures to end their accommodation crisis, reports UNB.
They gathered in front of the Vice-Chancellor's residence yesterday and started a hunger strike.
The demands of the students include allocating 100% seats for them starting from the first year, abolishing the "Ghonoroom", managing temporary accommodation until new female halls are established and constructing new female dormitories inside the main campus.
Allowing non-resident female students to enter the female halls, cancelling the doubling system for beds, shifting Kuwait-Maitree and Bangamata halls to the main campus by constructing new buildings are among their demands.
University Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Sayma Haque Bidisha met the protesters and assured them of a meeting on Thursday to discuss their demands. Following the assurance, the students ended their hunger strike at 4pm.
Sadia Sultana Promi, a sociology student, said, "The administration has promised to sit with us. However, we expect a decision. If our demands are not met, we will lay siege to the Vice-Chancellor's residence on Thursday afternoon."
The DU administration remains optimistic about addressing the accommodation crisis in a timely and comprehensive manner. The administration aims to resolve the crisis by collaborating with key stakeholders, including the University Grants Commission (UGC), government ministries, development partners, and friendly nations.
Despite limited resources, the university has taken immediate steps to mitigate the crisis, installing around 500 bunk beds across existing female dormitories. For the first time in its history, DU has implemented a transparent process for allocating seats for first-year undergraduate female students.
