97% of students lack dormitory facilities in four Barishal colleges

Four government colleges affiliated with the National University in Barishal are facing a severe accommodation crisis, with only 1,800 residential seats available for around 63,000 students.

The existing facilities can accommodate just 2.86% of the students, leaving nearly 97.14% without residential facilities. Most of them have to stay in rented houses or messes, while many students from distant areas struggle to attend classes regularly.

College authorities and students said the dormitory shortage is affecting classroom attendance and, in some cases, forcing students to discontinue their studies.

Government Barishal College is facing the most acute crisis as it has no residential facilities for its around 9,000 students enrolled in higher secondary, degree, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Students from outside the city have to live in messes or rented houses, adding to the cost of higher education, particularly for students from rural and low-income families.

At Government Syed Hatem Ali College, around 11,000 students are studying against only 100 residential seats, leaving nearly 10,900 without accommodation.

Government Women's College also has around 11,000 students but only 500 residential seats. The shortage is particularly concerning for female students, for whom safe and affordable accommodation is a major issue.

The largest institution, Government Brojomohun (BM) College, has around 32,000 students but only 1,200 residential seats. Most of its halls are old and in poor condition, with some accommodating nearly twice their intended capacity.

Although new departments have been introduced and student numbers have increased, no new residential hall has been built at BM College in the past 37 years, students said. A large number of students consequently live in messes across the city.

Walid bin Salauddin, general secretary of the BM College unit of Chhatra Dal, said most of the halls were in poor condition because of their age.

“Students are living in several buildings at risk to their lives. Earlier, there was no compulsory attendance requirement at the National University, but now students must attend 60% of classes to be eligible for examinations,” he said.

As a result, students from outside Barishal now have to stay in the city to attend classes regularly, he said, adding that many cannot afford the cost of living in messes. BM College Acting Principal Prof Kazi Jaber Ahmed said the institution was facing a “terrible” accommodation crisis. “The few halls we have are also in fragile condition. Students are living in inhuman conditions, with two students often occupying a single seat,” he said.

Prof Dr Md Mohiuddin, principal of Government Barishal College, said the lack of accommodation was contributing to poor classroom attendance. 

“The attendance rate is very low due to the lack of accommodation facilities. As our college has more female students than male students, ensuring their safety is particularly important,” he said.