Lack of reading rooms a problem for RU residential students

The Rajshahi University (RU) does not have enough reading facilities for its resident students.

The country's largest public university has 18 residential halls—11 for male students, six for female students, and one for international students.

 The university currently has 33,874 students—22,290 male and 11,584 female—according to the RU’s annual report of 2016–17, said a source in the university administration. Of the total number of students, only 8,130 students—5,061 male and 3,069 female— reside in 17 different dormitories meant for them, the source said, quoting the report.

Although 12 halls have reading room facilities, they face a shortage of seats. Besides, Shah Mukhdum Hall (422 boarders), Nawab Abdul Latif Hall (325 boarders), Motihar Hall (540 boarders), Saheed Shamsuzzuha Hall (420 boarders), and Rokeya Hall (720 boarders) have no special reading room for the students. As a result, the students find it difficult to concentrate while studying in their hostels, where three to four students usually share one room. That is why they come to the university’s reading room to study.

The reading room of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall has eight seats for 496 resident students. The Sher-e- Bangla Hall reading room has 25 seats for 308 students, while Amir Ali Hall’s reading room has 20 seats for 410 students, Shaheed Habibur Rahman Hall’s reading room has 12 seats for 802 students, Mader Bux Hall’s reading room has 17 seats for 540 students, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall’s reading room has 15 seats for 490 students, Monnojan Hall’s reading room has 25 seats for 860 students, and Taposi Rabeya Hall’s reading room has 25 seats for 460 students.

The Begum Khaleda Zia Hall reading room has 18 seats for 452 students. It has one common room for over 100 students.

Rahmatunnesa Hall has two reading rooms, but one remains permanently shut and the other has a seating capacity of 600.

 The newly constructed Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Hall reading room offers 35 seats for 300 students, sources said.

Srimontini Sompa, a residential student of Taposi Rabeya Hall, said: “I sit in a room called the ‘mass room’ of the hall with a capacity for 80 students. Around 20-25 students are always there. They listen to loud music. This makes it difficult to study. There are not enough seats in the reading room. So, I have no option to go back to my room. As a result, my studies are affected.”

She also said she wanted to draw the attention of the university authorities to the problem.

Tahmina Akter Rima, who stays in Monnojan Hall, said: “In the reading room, most of the time our seniors keep books or exercise books to indicate that the seats have already been occupied. Even if they don’t show up, no one can take their seats. Most of them browse the Internet on laptops and smartphones using Wi-Fi in the room.”

The central library has a reading room with only 30-40 seats, while the university has about 34,000 students.

This correspondent saw yesterday that students had kept their bags in a queue in front of the central library’s reading room to secure their turn in getting a seat. The students said this was a daily practice.

Jewel Rana, a master’s student of the political science department, said: “I have been staying like others in a four-bedroom dorm. I get terribly disturbed while I study as one of my roommates listens to music. So, I try to study at the hall’s reading room. But owing to a shortage of seats, I don’t get a place most of the time.”

Prof. Shafiqunnabi Samadi, administrator of the RU central library, said since there was no space in the library, no expansion was possible. “We’ll make arrangements for a reading room elsewhere,” he added.

Admitting the inadequacy of seating arrangements, Prof. Anisuzzaman, hall council president and provost of Saheed Suhrawardy Hall,  said the university lacked enough employees to look after the reading rooms.

When contacted, vice-chancellor Prof. M Sobhan said he was in Dhaka on an official visit and declined to comment without first making an investigation.

He, however, said he would take steps if needed.

Lack of reading rooms a problem for RU residential students

The Rajshahi University (RU) does not have enough reading facilities for its resident students. The countrys largest public university has 18 residential halls11 for male students, six for female students, and one for international students. The university currently has 33,874 students22,290 male and 11,584 femaleaccording to the RUs annual report of 201617, said a source in the university administration. Of the total number of students, only 8,130 students5,061 male and 3,069 female reside in 17 different dormitories meant for them, the source said, quoting the report. Although 12 halls have reading room facilities, they face a shortage of seats. Besides, Shah Mukhdum Hall (422 boarders), Nawab Abdul Latif Hall (325 boarders), Motihar Hall (540 boarders), Saheed Shamsuzzuha Hall (420 boarders), and Rokeya Hall (720 boarders) have no special reading room for the students. As a result, the students find it difficult to concentrate while studying in their hostels, where three to four students usually share one room. That is why they come to the universitys reading room to study. The reading room of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall has eight seats for 496 resident students. The Sher-e- Bangla Hall reading room has 25 seats for 308 students, while Amir Ali Halls reading room has 20 seats for 410 students, Shaheed Habibur Rahman Halls reading room has 12 seats for 802 students, Mader Bux Halls reading room has 17 seats for 540 students, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Halls reading room has 15 seats for 490 students, Monnojan Halls reading room has 25 seats for 860 students, and Taposi Rabeya Halls reading room has 25 seats for 460 students. The Begum Khaleda Zia Hall reading room has 18 seats for 452 students. It has one common room for over 100 students. Rahmatunnesa Hall has two reading rooms, but one remains permanently shut and the other has a seating capacity of 600. The newly constructed Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Hall reading room offers 35 seats for 300 students, sources said. Srimontini Sompa, a residential student of Taposi Rabeya Hall, said: I sit in a room called the mass room of the hall with a capacity for 80 students. Around 20-25 students are always there. They listen to loud music. This makes it difficult to study. There are not enough seats in the reading room. So, I have no option to go back to my room. As a result, my studies are affected. She also said she wanted to draw the attention of the university authorities to the problem. Tahmina Akter Rima, who stays in Monnojan Hall, said: In the reading room, most of the time our seniors keep books or exercise books to indicate that the seats have already been occupied. Even if they dont show up, no one can take their seats. Most of them browse the Internet on laptops and smartphones using Wi-Fi in the room. The central library has a reading room with only 30-40 seats, while the university has about 34,000 students. This correspondent saw yesterday that students had kept their bags in a queue in front of the central librarys reading room to secure their turn in getting a seat. The students said this was a daily practice. Jewel Rana, a masters student of the political science department, said: I have been staying like others in a four-bedroom dorm. I get terribly disturbed while I study as one of my roommates listens to music. So, I try to study at the halls reading room. But owing to a shortage of seats, I dont get a place most of the time. Prof. Shafiqunnabi Samadi, administrator of the RU central library, said since there was no space in the library, no expansion was possible. Well make arrangements for a reading room elsewhere, he added. Admitting the inadequacy of seating arrangements, Prof. Anisuzzaman, hall council president and provost of Saheed Suhrawardy Hall, said the university lacked enough employees to look after the reading rooms. When contacted, vice-chancellor Prof. M Sobhan said he was in Dhaka on an official visit and declined to comment without first making an investigation. He, however, said he would take steps if needed.