Meal rates hiked at RU dining halls

Rajshahi University (RU) hall authorities have increased students’ meal charges in all residential dormitories with effect from July 5.

As per the new price list, lunch now costs Tk. 24, up from Tk. 20, and dinner Tk. 18 instead of the Tk. 16 charged earlier.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the ‘dining conduct and meal-charge increase’ affairs sub-committee, headed by Prof. Bipul Kumar Biswas, convener of the RU Hall Provost Council, on Monday.

Dining room staff said, “The decision has come in view of our long-standing demand for an increase in the meal rate because of a hike in the prices of essentials, including rice and vegetables.”

They, however, conceded that it would be difficult to improve the quality of food despite the increase in the meal charges. “Nevertheless, we will try to serve good food the students,” they added.

On the other hand, residential students alleged the meal charges had been hiked without consulting them. They also complained there was no improvement in food quality, saying low-quality rice and stale food were being served in the dorm dining halls.

The students claimed many of them were suffering from malnutrition and stomach ailments like diarrhoea and dysentery because of the unhygienic food they were being forced to eat. Moreover, a huge amount of electricity is being misused, as a large number of the residential students cook their own food in their rooms using heaters.

As a result, not all students eat the food served in the dining halls, though the university authorities provide subsidies for it and employ cooking staff.

It is said that a significant portion of the money spent by the university by way of subsidies and dining hall employee salaries goes waste. Prof. Biswas told newspersons the decision to raise the charges were taken following an assurance by dining staff that the food quality would improve.

The meal rate was last increased in 2007.

 

Meal rates hiked at RU dining halls

Rajshahi University (RU) hall authorities have increased students meal charges in all residential dormitories with effect from July 5. As per the new price list, lunch now costs Tk. 24, up from Tk. 20, and dinner Tk. 18 instead of the Tk. 16 charged earlier. The decision was taken at a meeting of the dining conduct and meal-charge increase affairs sub-committee, headed by Prof. Bipul Kumar Biswas, convener of the RU Hall Provost Council, on Monday. Dining room staff said, The decision has come in view of our long-standing demand for an increase in the meal rate because of a hike in the prices of essentials, including rice and vegetables. They, however, conceded that it would be difficult to improve the quality of food despite the increase in the meal charges. Nevertheless, we will try to serve good food the students, they added. On the other hand, residential students alleged the meal charges had been hiked without consulting them. They also complained there was no improvement in food quality, saying low-quality rice and stale food were being served in the dorm dining halls. The students claimed many of them were suffering from malnutrition and stomach ailments like diarrhoea and dysentery because of the unhygienic food they were being forced to eat. Moreover, a huge amount of electricity is being misused, as a large number of the residential students cook their own food in their rooms using heaters. As a result, not all students eat the food served in the dining halls, though the university authorities provide subsidies for it and employ cooking staff. It is said that a significant portion of the money spent by the university by way of subsidies and dining hall employee salaries goes waste. Prof. Biswas told newspersons the decision to raise the charges were taken following an assurance by dining staff that the food quality would improve. The meal rate was last increased in 2007.