Tk 2,841 crore project proposed to expand 4 DU female halls

With an aim to resolve housing crisis, the Dhaka University (DU) authorities have proposed a Tk 2,841.86 crore project to expand four halls and hostels for female students.

This information was revealed in a press release sent to media by the university's public relations department on Monday (January 6).

According to the release, under the project, it has been proposed to demolish Shahnewaz Hostel and construct a 15-storey hall for female students; construct two extension buildings of Shamsun Nahar Hall with 10 and 6 floors; construct a hall for female students with two buildings with 11 and 8 floors demolishing the existing staff quarter (B and D building) of Leather Engineering Institute; and construct another 10-storey building beside Kuwait Maitree Hall.

In addition, the proposed 'Bangladesh-China Maitree Hall' construction project with the assistance of the Chinese government is also awaiting approval from the Ministry of Education, the release said.

Mentionable, a group of female students of DU held a press conference on Sunday announcing a symbolic hunger strike to press their demand of 100% housing at the university. On Monday, eight students, who are studying in their first and second years, started the hunger strike in front of the vice-chancellor's residence.

The press release said, “Despite budget deficit, about 500 bunk beds have been installed in various female student halls on a priority basis through special allocation, facilitating accommodation to first-year undergraduate students for the first time.”

"It will be possible to resolve the housing crisis within a reasonable time with the participation of all stakeholders. The issue of introducing housing scholarships for students under the HEAT project is currently under process. Students who will be admitted to undergraduate programmes in the next academic year will get this scholarship," it added.