Haunted by spectre of violence

Government Chittagong College and Government Haji Muhammad Mohsin College in Chittagong city have failed to provide accommodation to students for the last two years, forcing them to reside in small private dormitories.

Mohsin college has two hostels which could accommodate 200 students, while Chittagong College has four for about 500 students.

But on December 16, 2015, all the six dormitories were closed following a clash between the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Islami Chhatra Shibir on the Chittagong College campus.

Three students were injured while 60 Shibir activists       were detained by police following the two-hour clash.

Since then, students of both colleges, situated opposite each other, are managing in private dormitories.

A fourth-year student of Chittagong College, Md Asaduzzaman, has to commute between his and college regularly because he cannot stay in the hostel.

“I have to travel for about three hours from Anwara upazila to Chawkbazar area every day, and it takes around Tk 200 for each round trip,” he said.

“Often I fail to reach college on time due to traffic. It would have been a great mental, physical and financial relief for me if I had a chance to live in the college dormitory.”

Md Dil Newaz, a higher secondary-level student of Government Haji Muhammad Mohsin College, of Bashkhali upazila, said, “I have to largely depend on tutoring for my hostel rent as my family is not well-off. Moreover, we are four people living in one small room in the hostel, which can accommodate only two. The environment inside the room is therefore not much favourable for studies. ”

While talking to this correspondent, most of the students who come from outside the city expressed their dissatisfaction over the indifference of the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to reopen the dormitories.

Maymum Uddin Mamun, a Bangladesh Chhatra League leader of Mohsin College, said they urged the authorities concerned several times to reopen the dormitories but did not get any response.

Female students, especially the newly-enrolled, are the worst sufferers. They are forced to reside in different private hostels in the city with various problems.

“In my hostel, we do not get water in time. It does not even have any hygienic bathroom or toilet,” said Jannatul Mawa, a mathematics student of Chittagong College.

Before the closure, both colleges had faced dominance of Shibir activists since early 80s, according to BCL leaders.

Isthiak Mahmud, a master's student of physics of Mohsin college, said, “Fearing violence, I did not stay in the hostel as Shibir activists used to force residential students to participate in their political programmes.”

Apologising for the students' sufferings, Zobeda Mahmood, acting principal of Mohsin college, said they are afraid to reopen the halls, fearing further violence and instability on the campus.

In the last two years, the authorities concerned did not take any single step to overcome their fear and ensure security on the campus, complained students.

Jesmin Akther, principal of Chittagong College, said, “We will open the dormitories only if we can ensure security for students. We are observing the situation, and discussions are going on in this regard.”