No hostel for IBA students at RU

The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) of Rajshahi University (RU) has been functioning from a separate building, far away from the main campus. This is depriving students of the institute of residential facilities even as other students are eligible to get a seat in the varsity hostels.

Besides, the students have been facing a litany of problems, including security issues, due to lack of dorms.

Only three public universities—Dhaka University, Jahangirnagor Universitiy and Rajshahi University—have the IBA in the country. Students at the IBA of Dhaka University and Jahangirnagor University get the hostel facility on their respective campuses. But the IBA students of RU have remained without this facility for over four years now.

RU has 18 residential halls—11 dormitories for male students, six for female students and one for international students and researchers. But the number of seats is very limited on the campus. As many as 37,248 students are enrolled in the varsity, while only 8,825 of them have the residential facility.

About 200 regular students of the institute are suffering due to lack of a dormitory.

The IBA of RU started its journey in 2000. Academic activities of the institute began in 2002 with the inception of the MBA (Evening) programme at Rabindra Arts Faculty on the campus.

On 26 August, 2007, RU authorities opened a new course and introduced an admission test for the BBA (Honours) programme at IBA.

Later, the institute was shifted to a newly constructed multi-storeyed building on the campus on January 25, 2016. It was established on 10 bighas of land at a cost of Tk. 7.92 crore.

Sources say that RU authorities are responsible for all the activities of the institute. That’s why the varsity should ensure the residential facility for Institute of Business Administration (IBA)  students, they add.

The Institute of Business Administration (IBA)  authorities have written several letters to the RU vice-chacellor's office in this regard, but all their appeals went unheeded.

Shafiqul Islam, a third-year student of IBA, said: “We’re facing huge problems. Most of us are from poor families. Having to pay extra money to mess owners is an additional burden for our parents. It’s our right to get residential facilities, just like students of other departments have hostel facilities," he added.

Another student, Fitiya Rahi, said: “As our academic building is far away from the mess, it's very difficult to visit the campus daily. The rent and meal rates of houses close to the campus are very high. Few of us can afford such accomodations."

“Female students are the most affected. They face serious security problems,” she added.

IBA director Prof. Samsudduaha said: “We asked the varsity authorities to allocate Tk. 18 crore budget to us. With this money, we can set up a new dormitory adjacent to the academic building. We also sent a proposal to the University Grants Commission (UGC) two years back. But we're yet to get any answer.”

“We know that students are facing several problems, but the IBA is helpless. The RU authorities must take necessary steps,” he added.

The director of of RU's planning and development office, K Shahariar Rahman, said: “Nothing has been allocated in the university’s annual budget for IBA. If we get any additional scope in the next budget, we’ll allot dorms for IBA students.”

RU pro vice-chancellor Prof. Ananda Kumar said: “I am unaware of the matter.”

No hostel for IBA students at RU

The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) of Rajshahi University (RU) has been functioning from a separate building, far away from the main campus. This is depriving students of the institute of residential facilities even as other students are eligible to get a seat in the varsity hostels. Besides, the students have been facing a litany of problems, including security issues, due to lack of dorms. Only three public universitiesDhaka University, Jahangirnagor Universitiy and Rajshahi Universityhave the IBA in the country. Students at the IBA of Dhaka University and Jahangirnagor University get the hostel facility on their respective campuses. But the IBA students of RU have remained without this facility for over four years now. RU has 18 residential halls11 dormitories for male students, six for female students and one for international students and researchers. But the number of seats is very limited on the campus. As many as 37,248 students are enrolled in the varsity, while only 8,825 of them have the residential facility. About 200 regular students of the institute are suffering due to lack of a dormitory. The IBA of RU started its journey in 2000. Academic activities of the institute began in 2002 with the inception of the MBA (Evening) programme at Rabindra Arts Faculty on the campus. On 26 August, 2007, RU authorities opened a new course and introduced an admission test for the BBA (Honours) programme at IBA. Later, the institute was shifted to a newly constructed multi-storeyed building on the campus on January 25, 2016. It was established on 10 bighas of land at a cost of Tk. 7.92 crore. Sources say that RU authorities are responsible for all the activities of the institute. Thats why the varsity should ensure the residential facility for Institute of Business Administration (IBA) students, they add. The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) authorities have written several letters to the RU vice-chacellors office in this regard, but all their appeals went unheeded. Shafiqul Islam, a third-year student of IBA, said: Were facing huge problems. Most of us are from poor families. Having to pay extra money to mess owners is an additional burden for our parents. Its our right to get residential facilities, just like students of other departments have hostel facilities, he added. Another student, Fitiya Rahi, said: As our academic building is far away from the mess, its very difficult to visit the campus daily. The rent and meal rates of houses close to the campus are very high. Few of us can afford such accomodations. Female students are the most affected. They face serious security problems, she added. IBA director Prof. Samsudduaha said: We asked the varsity authorities to allocate Tk. 18 crore budget to us. With this money, we can set up a new dormitory adjacent to the academic building. We also sent a proposal to the University Grants Commission (UGC) two years back. But were yet to get any answer. We know that students are facing several problems, but the IBA is helpless. The RU authorities must take necessary steps, he added. The director of of RUs planning and development office, K Shahariar Rahman, said: Nothing has been allocated in the universitys annual budget for IBA. If we get any additional scope in the next budget, well allot dorms for IBA students. RU pro vice-chancellor Prof. Ananda Kumar said: I am unaware of the matter.