DU female students protest housing crisis with hunger strike

Female students from Dhaka University staged a token hunger strike and sit-in outside the Vice Chancellor's residence on Monday (January 6), demanding immediate action to address the ongoing accommodation crisis.

The protest began in the noon, with students raising slogans to press for their seven-point demand.

Disparity in housing facilities

The protesting students highlighted the glaring disparity in housing facilities between male and female students. "There are 13 halls of residence for male students but only five for female students," one of the protesters said. "A girl has to worry about where she will stay when she comes to study at this university. This is unacceptable. We demand a visible solution, not mere assurances."

The students warned that failure to address the issue promptly would result in further intensified protests.

The seven demands

The students outlined the following demands:

100% accommodation for first-year students

Immediate and effective steps must be taken to ensure housing for all first-year students.

Abolition of so called Gana Rooms 

The current communal room system, described as inhumane and unhygienic, must be abolished, and adequate individual accommodations provided.

Until new student halls are completed, temporary accommodations should be arranged in university-owned or rented buildings near the campus. An official notification must be issued, and implementation completed within a specified timeframe.

Construction of new student halls must be prioritised within the main campus, and progress should be made visible.

Non-resident students should be allowed entry into halls and access to dining facilities upon presenting their hall cards until permanent housing is ensured.

The practice of bed sharing in existing halls must be gradually phased out, ensuring better living conditions.

Maitree and Bangamata Halls should be relocated to the main campus in phases as new buildings are constructed.

The students urged the administration to take immediate steps to resolve the housing crisis. We want action, not just assurances, they said firmly.

The protest reflects the growing frustration among students, who have long struggled with inadequate housing and substandard living conditions. The university administration is yet to comment on the matter.