JU's MMH Hall students plagued with problems

Accommodation crisis, unhygienic food and unhealthy living conditions

Resident students of Jahangirnagar University’s (JU) Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall (MMH) are facing a plethora of problems such as an acute accommodation crisis, unhygienic food and unhealthy living conditions.
Students allege that resident teachers merely attended meetings in the provost’s office without ever visiting the hall, thus leaving the issues unaddressed.
This correspondent saw first-year students of the 2016-17 session staying in the hall's common room, called "Gono Room" by the students.
Students and hall officials say the accommodation crisis has aggravated, as several students refused to vacate their rooms despite having completed their courses one or two years ago. Student leaders, too, are contributing to the crisis by staying alone in two-bedded rooms. The situation has become so difficult that the hall authorities have frequently asked the general students of this dorm to shift to the newly built Rabindranath Tagore Hall.
A first-year student staying in this dorm said on condition of anonymity: “There is no scope to study or sleep in a calm and quiet environment here. We have no idea when we will be shifted to a better room. The hall authorities have no control over allotment of seats. This is dictated by student leaders with political 
affiliation. So, many students given accommodation in other dorms are staying here 
illegally.”
Asked about the allegations against BCL activist Subrata Kumar Shaha, a BCL leader of the JU unit at MH Hall said: “Seven batches of students are staying in the hall right now. Sometimes, we get the chance to help the hall authorities in seat distribution. As we do not have a full-fledged committee for the hall yet, we are a bit disorganised. So, we are unable to help the hall authorities in matters of seat allotment.”
Besides, the quality of food served in the canteens is said to be worsening. Students allege the canteen owners serve poor-quality food at high prices. Moreover, the food provided in the dining halls and messes are said to be unhygienic. The utensils are not cleaned properly and the water used in cooking is not safe, say students. They often have to fetch food from distant stores.
Shohrab Sharkar Shadhin, a second-year chemistry student, said: “Food prices in this dorm are higher than those in other dorms on the campus. So, students run their own messes to get food at reasonable rates.” Conditions in the dorm kitchens are also said to be unhygienic. On the other hand, some shop owners alleged that students buy foodstuff on credit and owe them several lakhs of Taka.
Iqbal Hossain, one such food store owner, said: “Students owe us at least Tk. 2,50,000. So, sometimes we are forced to charge higher prices to prevent losses.”

JUs MMH Hall students plagued with problems

Accommodation crisis, unhygienic food and unhealthy living conditions

Resident students of Jahangirnagar Universitys (JU) Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall (MMH) are facing a plethora of problems such as an acute accommodation crisis, unhygienic food and unhealthy living conditions. Students allege that resident teachers merely attended meetings in the provosts office without ever visiting the hall, thus leaving the issues unaddressed. This correspondent saw first-year students of the 2016-17 session staying in the halls common room, called Gono Room by the students. Students and hall officials say the accommodation crisis has aggravated, as several students refused to vacate their rooms despite having completed their courses one or two years ago. Student leaders, too, are contributing to the crisis by staying alone in two-bedded rooms. The situation has become so difficult that the hall authorities have frequently asked the general students of this dorm to shift to the newly built Rabindranath Tagore Hall. A first-year student staying in this dorm said on condition of anonymity: There is no scope to study or sleep in a calm and quiet environment here. We have no idea when we will be shifted to a better room. The hall authorities have no control over allotment of seats. This is dictated by student leaders with political affiliation. So, many students given accommodation in other dorms are staying here illegally. Asked about the allegations against BCL activist Subrata Kumar Shaha, a BCL leader of the JU unit at MH Hall said: Seven batches of students are staying in the hall right now. Sometimes, we get the chance to help the hall authorities in seat distribution. As we do not have a full-fledged committee for the hall yet, we are a bit disorganised. So, we are unable to help the hall authorities in matters of seat allotment. Besides, the quality of food served in the canteens is said to be worsening. Students allege the canteen owners serve poor-quality food at high prices. Moreover, the food provided in the dining halls and messes are said to be unhygienic. The utensils are not cleaned properly and the water used in cooking is not safe, say students. They often have to fetch food from distant stores. Shohrab Sharkar Shadhin, a second-year chemistry student, said: Food prices in this dorm are higher than those in other dorms on the campus. So, students run their own messes to get food at reasonable rates. Conditions in the dorm kitchens are also said to be unhygienic. On the other hand, some shop owners alleged that students buy foodstuff on credit and owe them several lakhs of Taka. Iqbal Hossain, one such food store owner, said: Students owe us at least Tk. 2,50,000. So, sometimes we are forced to charge higher prices to prevent losses.