Md. Moniruzzaman :
After the student-led mass uprising and the fall of the fascist Awami League government, Dhaka University (DU) has witnessed significant changes in areas that were long sought by students and addressed major crises that had caused considerable struggle and suffering.
For years, DU students had dreamt of a fair allocation of legal dormitory seats by hall administration and a learning-friendly environment on campus, achieved by limiting the influx of vehicles and resolving other issues disrupting campus life.
These aspirations have now been realised, as the university administration has taken steps to address these challenges in the wake of the mass uprising.
With these effective changes, students are expressing their happiness and sharing moments of joy on social media. They have also pledged to support the administration in maintaining these positive developments in the future.
Regular students are now being allocated legal dormitory seats by the hall administration, fulfilling a long-cherished dream. Previously, seat allocation was controlled by the ruling party’s student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).
Additionally, students have been relieved of the misery associated with the ‘guestroom’ and ‘gonoroom’ cultures, where first-year students were often housed under the control of BCL.
Before the fall of the Awami League government, there were over 150 gonorooms across the university’s 18 halls.
Following the change in government, the hall administration announced the abolition of gonorooms, allocated beds to students in these rooms, and issued notices for those who had completed their undergraduate or postgraduate studies to vacate dormitories.
Students have expressed their satisfaction with the hall administration’s new role. Many have shared their joy at receiving legal seats free from political coercion on social media.
Shorif Ahmed Shohan, a first-year student at Sir A F Rahman Hall, said: “I cannot express in words how happy I was to receive a legal seat on my first day at university.
When I saw the gonorooms and learned about the guestroom culture, I had decided not to live in the halls, but the July uprising has given me this opportunity.”
Before the mass uprising, house tutors were largely inactive, with the BCL effectively controlling hall management. Now, house tutors are fulfilling their duties, conducting room visits, and addressing student concerns.
The DU administration is now working to hold the much-anticipated Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) elections, generating excitement and high expectations among students and student organisations.
“We are committed to holding the DUCSU elections. This is a responsibility entrusted to me, and I am working to organise it as soon as possible.
Once student representatives are elected, our administrative tasks will become much easier,” said DU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Niaz Ahmed Khan in an interview with The New Nation.
Various student organisations have called for a clear roadmap for the election within a short timeframe.
“To determine the timing and candidate eligibility for DUCSU, we have formed two committees.
The Political Activities Review Committee will provide recommendations on the nature and scope of political activities, while another committee will propose reforms to the DUCSU constitution, based on suggestions from students and organisations,” Prof. Khan explained.
“After considering these recommendations, we will organise the DUCSU elections as soon as possible,” he added.
The DU administration has taken a significant step towards creating a student-friendly environment by limiting vehicle entry onto campus, ensuring safety and a conducive learning atmosphere.
Students have welcomed the move and expressed their willingness to support its smooth implementation.
Previously, students, particularly those from Ruqayyah Hall and Shamsunnahar Hall, which are located near a main road, faced harassment and inconvenience due to the unrestricted flow of public transport.
The heavy traffic also caused significant disruptions, preventing students from moving freely around campus.
“This step to limit vehicle entry is a bold measure by the university administration that previous administrations did not dare to take,” said Ishrat Zerin, a residential student of Ruqayyah Hall.
She added, “We faced constant noise disturbances, making it difficult to study. Crossing roads was hazardous due to the heavy traffic.”
DU Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed commented: “This is a university, not a bypass road. Allowing vehicles to use our campus in this way was unsafe for our students and staff. We cannot return to the previous state of affairs.”
First-year students who are not allocated hall accommodation and face financial difficulties will now receive stipends to help cover their educational expenses while living off-campus.
“We have secured scholarships through the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project of the World Bank. These will support first-year students without hall seats, enabling them to manage their expenses,” said Prof. Niaz Ahmed.
“We have held meetings with World Bank officials, who have agreed to provide this support,” he added.
