Eviction claims at AF Rahman Hall of CU spark Chhatra Dal protest

There have been allegations against the authorities of AF Rahman Hall of Chattogram University (CU) of ousting residential master's-level students from their rooms before the publication of their examination results, prompting strong protests from Chhatra Dal.

In a statement issued yesterday (5 January), signed by CU Chhatra Dal Office Secretary Abu Hasnat Md Ruknuddin, the organisation condemned the incident.

According to the statement, the university's central seat allocation policy clearly states that a student's enrollment validity and residential validity remain intact until the master's results are officially published. However, the hall authorities allegedly ignored this policy and instructed students to vacate the hall solely on the grounds that their examinations or viva voce had concluded—an action the Chhatra Dal described as irregular, inhumane, and an abuse of authority.

The statement further cited Clause 20(e) of the seat allocation policy, which specifies that a residential seat is automatically cancelled only after the publication of results.

"There is no provision for forced eviction prior to that," the statement said, adding that imposing personal decisions as "law" was pushing students' education, accommodation, and future into severe uncertainty.

CU Chhatra Dal General Secretary Abdullah Al Noman said they issued their statement after consulting hall representatives and affected students. "Based on those discussions, we made our position clear," he added.

Md Apel Mahmud, a student of the Department of Political Science who was forced to vacate the hall, said, "The provost is completely unwilling to consider others' opinions, no matter how logical they are. We received eviction notices even before completing our master's examinations. We were left with no option but to vacate the hall."

Another master's student from the Department of Communication and Journalism, Gaddari Kuhu, said she was also served with a notice to vacate despite having an ongoing thesis.

"When I informed the provost about my thesis work, I was asked to submit an application," she added.

Responding to the allegations, Professor Dr Mohammad Taslim Uddin, provost of AF Rahman Hall, said that Clause 20(e) of the university regulations does exist, but Clause 20(c) allows students to retain seats only up to the completion of examinations.

He further claimed that, under Clause 24, the provost is empowered to issue notices following the completion of examinations.

"I have not forcibly evicted anyone. I only issued notices to urge students to vacate. If anyone faced difficulties, they could have approached me directly. As provost, it is not possible for me to visit every room individually," he added.