DU students stage demo for opening dorms before exams

A group of Dhaka University (DU) students today staged demonstration in the campus demanding residential facilities before holding examinations of final year and master's students from December 26 amidst COVID -19 .

The agitating students formed a human chain at the footstep of Anti-terrorist Raju Memorial Sculpture on the campus this afternoon to press home their six-point demand.

Their demands include opening of residential halls, taking review classes of each course for those who couldn't join online classes, and transportation facilities for non-residential students.

Addressing the human chain cum rally they also demanded not to take two semester final exams at the same time and giving students enough time to prepare .

"Where we will stay in Dhaka if the dormitories remain close ; significant number of students came from low- and middle-income families to the university and unable to afford the cost to stay in hotels during exams while getting house rent within the shortest time is quite impossible," Mehedi Hasan, a final-year student of Islamic studies department told the rally .

"Many of us cannot afford to pay the security deposit that most landlords demand and the risk of second COVID-19 wave is already on ," he added.

Terming university's decision of taking exams without opening halls as 'illogical', another student of International Business Department Atik Morshed said it is a matter of regret that the Vice-Chancellor says he does not know where students will stay.

It is of course university's responsibility to ensure residential facilities for its students, he added.

The students also threatened for tougher programme if the university authorities fail to extend accommodation facilities before the exams.