The authorities of newly constructed Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall and Santosh Chandra Bhaban of Jagannath Hall are charging extra fees from the students attached to the dormitories, students have alleged.
The students said the authorities Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall were realising Tk 4,000 while the authorities of Santosh Chandra Bhaban Tk 1,700 as ‘caution fee’.
They alleged that each of the students was paying an extra fee of Tk 4,000 as ‘caution fees’ for accommodating in Sufia Kamal Hall and Tk 1,700 in Santosh Chandra Bhaban.
‘I am to Tk 4,000 in the name of ‘caution fees’ for my accommodation in the hall,’ said a student attached to the female dormitory.
Meanwhile, activists of Dhaka University unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra Union, a leftist student organisation, on Monday staged demonstration against the so-called ‘caution fees’.
They said the university authorities had already increased fees on the different pretexts of development, students’ welfare, lab charge, media centre and others.
Addressing a rally in front of the university central library, leaders of the organisation demanded withdrawal of the university authorities’ decision to charge ‘caution fees’.
DU unit president Pinak Roy Pintu chaired the rally, also addressed, among others, by general secretary Abu Tareq Sohel and organising secretary Maruf Billah Tanmoy.
Earlier, they brought out a procession from Madhur Canteen and paraded different streets on the campus.
Samajtantrik Chhatra Front has also been continuing demonstration against the increased fees and rent for facilities.
Asked about the fees, Md Ashraf Uddin, director of accounts of the university, told New Age that the hall authorities would explain the cause better.
He added, ‘The hall authorities may charge some fees for the first year in the new dormitories to ensure facilities for the students.’
The hall provost, Nilufar Nahar, however, did not respond to phone call despite several attempts.
Jagannath Hall provost Ajoy Kumar Das said, ‘No extra fee is being charged here. But the students may have to pay Tk 150-200 as establishment fees of the new building.’
When asked, DU vice-chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique told New Age that the students might be charged some money.
‘However, I will look into the matter,’ he said.
‘We have increased the rent for holding programme on the campus not for our students but for the outsiders who hold programmes on the campus.’