DU canteens

By Fazal Mahmud, Department of Management Studies, University of Dhaka
13 April 2004, 18:00 PM
Last Tuesday (6-4-2004) I along with my two friends were walking on the Dhaka University campus. In fact, we were loitering around the science faculty's annex building. At that time we saw a very nice, new Nescafe canteen just opposite the university gymnasium. Its environment and accommodation is quite remarkable. I haven't seen such a beautiful canteen on the campus in four years and a half of my university life.

I've just completed (results yet to be published ) my BBA from the Business Faculty. So, nowadays I seldom go to the university. It was really an astonishing sight for me.

At that moment, I felt very sorry for the Business Faculty students. Of course, for those who are living in their homes. Because the students who live in halls, during the university life, gather a totally different type of experience. As students of the Business Faculty, we had to go to IBA, Modhur or DUCSU canteen. In the first year of my university life, I found it not too difficult to go to these canteens, since there was a gate in between our faculty and the lecture theatre, by which we could go through to the IBA or DUCSU canteen. We used to go the IBA canteen as this is relatively better in terms of quality than the DUCSU canteen. Modhur canteen, however, is still the centre point of our university students politics. We always tried to avoid this canteen. Recently, the administrators of IBA have closed the gate which was in front of the Modhur canteen. I don't know why they have done this , but certainly it has created a lot of problems for the students who are studying in the Business Faculty. The gate between the BF and the lecture theatre was also closed almost two years ago. That's why nowadays for taking our meal we have to walk a much longer distance to reach either the IBA or the DUCSU canteen. It takes time and energy . Though I've finished my course, still I eagerly feel for the fellow students, who are facing the problem. I'm taking this as a serious problem because at times students don't want to take meals, since the canteens are a bit distant from their classrooms. They think they'll take meals at home after finishing all the classes. Most of them prefer to take light snacks which are not at all hygienically prepared.

I'm writing about this problem because I know the practical difficulties that the students are facing.. Two of my close friends became ill in this process. I'm grateful to Allah that both of them are well now, and they somehow managed to appear in their exams. I am, therefore, requesting the Dean of the BF to pay due attention to this matter and take appropriate action.