RAJSHAHI, May 22: The residential students at Rajshahi University (RU) have been facing problems as reading room facilities at the dormitories are not satisfactory.
Though some dormitories have reading rooms or library, students cannot enjoy the facilities for lack of management.
Poor infrastructure, inadequate number of seats, insufficient reference books and keeping the library locked during the peak hours are the main problems.
Shah Makdum Hall has 422 resident students, Nawab Abdul Latif Hall 325 residents, Motihar Hall 540 residents, Shahid Shamsuzzoha Hall 420, and Begum Rokeya Hall 720 female students.
There is no separate reading rooms for the students. As a result, they have to come in the university central library for study purposes.
Moreover, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall has only eight seats for 496 residential students, Sher-e- Bangla Hall has 25 seats for 308 students, Sayeed Ameer Ali Hall has 20 seats for 410 students and Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall has 15 seats for 490 students.
Monnojan Hall has 25 seats for 860 students and Taposi Rabeya hall have 25 seats for 460 students.
Meanwhile, 70 to 80 students have to live in each "big room" at each female dormitory. There is no separate table for reading in these rooms.
Some students told this correspondent, "The environment is not at all congenial for studies."
Subarna Khatun, a residential student of Taposi Rabeya Hall, said, there is not enough space at the four-seated rooms. Authority should take proper steps to solve the problem."
Dr Aminul Islam, convener of RU Provost Council, acknowledged that reading room shortage is a problem. The administration was aware of it and would resolve the issue soon.
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