PUST Correspondent :
In Pabna Science and Technology University (PUST) there are only two residential halls for boys and girls. The number of seats in the boys hall is 502 and the girls hall has 260, which inadequate for the students.
According to this calculation, only 12 percent of students are getting residential facilities in proportion to the university’s students, while the remaining 88 percent of students have to study in different messes and flats outside of the campus.
Although the work of two new halls with 2000 seats, one for boys and one for girls has been started in 2020 but it has not been completed even after 5 years. For this reason the residential deprived students expressed their anger to the administration.
According to the university Academic and Scholarship office, Currently 6,400 students are studying in 21 departments at PUST. Only 762 students are staying in the university’s residential halls. Most of these students are in their 3rd and 4th years. Due to the residential problem, the 1st and 2nd year students cannot stay in the halls.
Students said, due to the lack of inadequate residential facilities in the university most of them have to stay outside the campus. Staying in various messes and flats outside the campus are very expensive. It is difficult to bear for those students whose families have financial problems.
In this situation, students have demanded from the administration to quickly complete the work of the two new halls and open them.
Amjad Hossain, a student of the Statistics department said, ‘Since I came to the university, I have seen that the work of the new hall is going on but that work is not finished yet. Even after I am a fourth year student, I have to stay in the mess which is very disappointing. It is difficult to meet expenses due to the increase in the price of goods.’
Abdus Salam, a student of the Bangla department said, ‘It is very important for the university to open a new hall. This is important for the development of the academic environment of the students, resolving the housing crisis and the overall development of the campus.’
According to the university project director’s office, work on Sheikh Rasel Hall for boys and Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall for girls began in December 2020 with a DDP allocation of Tk 54 core 39 lacks. The scheduled completion date was July 2021. But due to various reasons including Corona and rising commodity prices, the work period was extended five times. The current deadline was until June 2024. However, due to some complications, the work could not be completed within this period.
On this topic the statement of the project director could not get. The university engineer (on charge) Mr. Farid Ahmed talked on this topic. He said the new nation, ‘The work on the boys’ hall has been completed. A letter has been sent to the administration for its handover. There is a little work left on the girls’ hall, we hope that will also be completed within the next month.’
