DUCSU provides generators, water and food to waterlogged halls

The Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) has arranged generators, drinking water and dry food for residential students affected by severe waterlogging and power outages caused by continuous heavy rain.

The students' union also said it is working with the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and other relevant authorities to drain water from the campus.

DUCSU Vice-President Abu Shadik Kayem announced the measures after inspecting affected areas on Sunday.

"We visited the halls and observed the students' condition. We have arranged two generators as there is no electricity. We are working with the City Corporation to drain the water. InshaAllah, we will ensure a permanent solution to the waterlogging that occurs here even after a little rain," Kayem said.

He, however, blamed the university administration for a lack of cooperation, alleging that it had delayed several development projects, including the renovation of residential halls and the central playground.

As part of its emergency response, DUCSU has deployed four vans to transport students free of charge through waterlogged areas, particularly in front of Bangladesh-Kuwait Friendship Hall and Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Hall. The university has also increased the number of daily bus services.

The student body has also arranged generator-backed power supply and distributed candles to the two halls where electricity was disconnected for safety reasons. In addition, dry food and two truckloads of drinking water have been supplied with assistance from the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA).

Kayem said DUCSU had requested the university administration, the estate office and DSCC to work together to expedite water drainage. He added that the union had also raised students' concerns over upcoming examinations with the authorities.

According to Kayem, the administration said the relevant departments and examination committees would take decisions on scheduled examinations based on formal recommendations.

DUCSU also claimed it had previously submitted proposals to the university administration and DSCC for a planned drainage system to prevent recurring waterlogging but had seen no effective action.

The union further alleged that the administration had failed to implement a project worth about Tk2 crore to address waterlogging at the central playground despite funds being allocated.

Earlier, continuous rainfall inundated large parts of the campus, including the administrative building, Teachers' Club, Central Playground, Curzon Hall, Nilkhet, Palashi, Nawab Sir Salimullah Muslim Hall, Bangladesh-Kuwait Friendship Hall, Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Hall and Muhammad Shahidullah Hall. Thousands of students faced hardship after electricity was disconnected from the Kuwait Friendship and Fazilatunnesa halls as a safety precaution.

Meanwhile, University Examination Controller Himadri Shekhar Chakraborty announced that all university examinations scheduled for Monday had been postponed.