SEAT crisis in residential halls in public universities has been a persistent problem, with 60 per cent of students having no access to residential facilities. The halls of residence had, moreover, been under the control of ruling party student organisation that used to run seat trade and allocate them in exchange for partisan loyalty. Leaders and activists of the ruling party student wing also occupied seats and rooms using political clout even after the completion of studies. Even then, first- and second-year students usually ended up living in crowded common rooms, hallways or on the roof or floors of nearby mosques. The demand for seat allotment has, therefore, persisted. On September 15, women students of the University of Dhaka sat in in front of the vice-chancellor鈥檚 house for seat allotment. Similar demands have been made by students in other universities, too. The University of Dhaka on September 10 abolished the common rooms. When the move is welcome in that common rooms did not have the environment for healthy living or studies, this might exacerbate the seat crisis. A 2023 University Grants Commission report says that 55 per cent of students in Dhaka University have no housing facilities.
The report, based on 2022 information, says that 60 per cent of students in 50 public universities have no residential facilities and face difficulties, including financial, to continue with their studies. There were 252 residential halls and hostels in public universities in 2022. The seat crisis is more pronounced in some universities when a few are in a better position. Jagannath University, which was turned into a university from a college two decades ago, does not have any halls but one for female students, leaving the students in a difficult situation as many, as in other public universities, are from poor families. About 50 per cent students in Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and 45 per cent students in the University of Rajshahi do not have access to residential facilities. Even Jahangirnagar University, a residential university, cannot accommodate 20 per cent of the students. Among others, Islami University in Kushtia, Begum Rokeya University and Barishal University cannot accommodate 40鈥�50 per cent students in their halls of residence. The housing crisis is believed to have intensified because the number of students has been raised by opening new departments and institutions in different universities, without ensuring accommodation for students.
Public universities as well as the education ministry can no longer look the other way. Piecemeal efforts such as issuing notices and asking graduating students to leave halls are not enough to address the crisis. They should assess the situation, ensure a systematic distribution of seats in halls and arrange for residential facilities to accommodate the students. They should also ensure an environment conducive to studies and healthy living in residential halls.
