DU female students announce hunger strike demanding full residential university

Female students of Dhaka University (DU) have announced a hunger strike from tomorrow in front of the VC's residence, demanding full residential university. 

A group of students announced this in a press conference held in Dhaka University Journalist's Association (DUJA) on Sunday. 

They also demanded an immediate Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election.

Israt Jahan Imu, a student of management and information system and Samsunnahar hall, delivered the written statement stating, "We have submitted a memorandum to the vice-chancellor mentioning seven demands. Sorry to say, the administration expressed its inability to meet most of the demands. From tomorrow 10am, we will starve till our demands are met."

The demands include giving 100% seat allotment from first year, abolishing gonoroom, managing temporary resident until new female halls are established, establishing new female hall inside the main campus and starting work as soon as possible, confirming non residential female students entrance in female halls, canceling doubling system in bed and transferring Kuwait Moittri and Bangamata hall into main campus by establishing new building. 

The press conference was also attended by Maisha Tasnim Mirttika from sociology department, Sidratul Muntaha Ohi of Psychology department, Hafsa Fawjiya Khan of sociology department and Jhorna Akther of management and information system department, among others.   

A new hall for female students has been proposed, according to a notice issued by the university administration.

The notice states that in order to resolve the accommodation crisis for female students at Dhaka University, the construction of a female students' hall has been initiated. The proposed 'Bangladesh-China Friendship Hall Construction Project,' which is financially supported by the Chinese government, is currently awaiting approval from the ministry at a cost of 244 crore taka.

"The university administration is sincerely working to resolve the accommodation crisis for female students at Dhaka University. Several arrangements for female student housing have already been made by installing bunk beds in various student halls. In addition, under the World Bank's HEAT project, the process for introducing accommodation scholarships for both male and female students is underway. It is expected that the students enrolling in the undergraduate program in the next academic year will be eligible for these scholarships," mentioned the notice.