DUCSU meet administration again over residential crisis, press three-point demand

Leaders of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) staged a programme on Thursday (April 30) demanding accountability from the university administration over their previously announced three-point demand regarding the ongoing residential crisis.

 

The programme was held in front of the administrative building of the University of Dhaka, where DUCSU leaders chanted slogans calling for an immediate resolution to the acute seat shortage in university halls. Later, they held a meeting with the university administration.

 

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, DUCSU General Secretary SM Farhad said that they had earlier placed several demands, including the formulation of a clear and specific seat allocation policy. “Our goal was to ensure that first-year students get seats in the halls on time. If they fail to secure seats, they should receive accommodation allowances. At the same time, we wanted to stop the growing tendency of students retaining hall seats through repeated re-admissions (readmissions),” he said.

 

Farhad further added that the Vice-Chancellor had previously assured, in the presence of media, that by April 30, the administration would provide an update, including a list of students occupying seats despite being ineligible, along with details of the actions to be taken. “Unfortunately, even today, we have not received the finalised list of hall occupants. More disappointing is that the promised comprehensive seat allocation policy has not yet been finalised,” he said.

 

He also mentioned that, following strong objections from DUCSU leaders, both the Vice-Chancellor and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) requested them to propose a policy. “We have given a preliminary verbal proposal. We aim to introduce session-based binding, prevent misuse of readmission to occupy seats, ensure a formal culture of vacating seats after the expiry of tenure, and prioritise first-year students,” he added.

 

Earlier on  April 20, DUCSU had announced a three-point demand: ensuring a transparent and acceptable seat allocation policy for all halls; cancelling seats of those who are no longer eligible under the policy; and allowing only current, seat-entitled residential students to stay in the halls.