DUCSU spends Tk 32 lakh on bedbug control

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) has published an activity and accountability report highlighting the activities and expenditure details of one year of its tenure. Information on various initiatives including students’ accommodation, transport, healthcare, skill development, facilities for female students, research and educational activities has been presented in it.

DUCSU Vice-President (VP) Abu Sadiq Kayem presented the one-year activity and accountability report at a press conference organized in front of the DUCSU building on Thursday (September 17). However, the full audit report of the entire activities was not published at the press conference. The amount of expenditure in several sectors was highlighted in the published presentation.

According to the presentation, DUCSU has spent Tk 32 lakh on bedbug control throughout the year. In addition, Tk 3 crore has been spent on modernization of the Shaheed Intellectual Dr. Mohammad Mortaza Medical Centre, Tk 3 crore 50 lakh on renovation of the central mosque and Tk 65 lakh on construction of a modern gymnasium for female students. Recovery of Tk 7 crore 51 lakh for renovation of risky halls has also been mentioned in the report.

However, although information on multiple activities has been given, DUCSU has not yet published the detailed expenditure accounts of all sectors. VP Abu Sadiq Kayem informed that the audit work is ongoing. Once the audit is completed, the detailed accounts of expenditure will be published within a few days.

Regarding the claim of Tk 35 crore worth of work by the social service secretary, Sadiq Kayem said the amount of work done by DUCSU is more than Tk 35 crore. However, he also claimed that many works could not be done due to obstacles from the administration.

At the press conference, the DUCSU VP said the administration has not yet given the budget allocated for DUCSU. Throughout the entire period the administration has behaved like a stepmother. Even after that, he claimed that DUCSU's committees have done more than a thousand works in one year in various fields including accommodation, transport, quality of hall food and health research.

Regarding the introduction of the teacher evaluation method, Sadiq Kayem said although the matter was raised in the academic process, it could not be implemented due to administrative delay. Later DUCSU launched a website named ‘DU Teachers Evaluation’ on its own initiative.

According to the report, motorcycle and car driving training, hall-based first aid training and free spoken English courses have been organized for the skill development of students. Various programmes such as workshops on research, training on preparing research proposals, sessions on scholarships and higher education and education expos have also been organised.

DUCSU has also informed that several initiatives have been taken in the transport sector. Among these, introduction of Saturday bus service, evening trips on various routes, buses for female halls and introduction of weekly Dhaka-Cumilla bus service have been mentioned in the report. Alongside this, initiatives for modernization of the transport system and expansion of various routes have also been highlighted.

DUCSU has also published a book named ‘Khatian’ highlighting the details of one year’s activities. Information on various initiatives that have not been implemented or are stuck has been highlighted in a large part of the book.

The report said six initiatives including establishment of a computer lab with the cooperation of the Information and Communication Technology Division, training on artificial intelligence, internships, certificate assistance, innovation centre and job fair are still stuck.

In addition, several projects related to the Local Government Division and Dhaka South City Corporation including field renovation and introduction of digital services, arrangement of food at subsidized prices in halls, renovation of DUCSU canteen, beautification of the pond bank, walking paths and lighting have not been implemented, the report mentioned.

It has also been said in the book that several more initiatives including the canteen of Kazi Motahar Hossain Building, bins for sustainable waste management, mobile toilets, collection of new vehicles and infrastructural development of various halls are stuck. Alongside this, dissatisfaction regarding distribution of grants from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, launch of the gymnasium for female students and renovation of the central playground has also been highlighted.