Allegation of ‘single room’ allocation for VP, GS at DU’s AF Rahman Hall
Allegations have surfaced against the authorities of Dhaka University’s Sir AF Rahman Hall over an initiative to allocate single rooms for the hall’s vice-president (VP) and general secretary (GS).
However, both the hall provost and the VP have dismissed the matter as a “misunderstanding.”
The allegation came from a resident of room 318, who claimed that Provost Professor Kazi Mahfuzul Haque Shupon had recently indicated the room was meant for the hall’s VP and GS.
Resident Md Redowan said, “The provost called us and asked how many of us live in 318. When we said six, he told us that six students can’t stay in one room and that some of us must be ‘illegal’. When we explained that all our names are in the database, he replied that 318 is traditionally the VP-GS room of the hall.”
Redowan questioned the claim, saying, “How can that be a custom when it hasn’t happened in the last 30 years? Even after the 2019 DUCSU elections, the room was occupied by a then DUCSU AGS BSL’s Saddam, not by any hall VP or GS.”
He further alleged that some members of the hall union had pressured the administration for single rooms.
AF Rahman Hall VP Rafiqul Islam Rafiq, however, said the matter was simply a misunderstanding.
“We currently share a room among eight students. Since we all come from different departments, our study schedules clash and sometimes cause disturbances. I heard from hall alumni that two small rooms — 318 and 409 — were originally designed for the VP and GS,” he said.
“We informed the provost that if the current residents agree, we could share those rooms, two people per room. We never demanded single rooms. If we had, we would’ve done so right after the election. This is just a misunderstanding,” he added.
Provost Professor Kazi Mahfuzul Haque Shupon also denied the allegation, saying, “There are supposed to be four residents in room 318, but they said six are living there. I only asked if the extra students were staying without authorisation. Perhaps my comment was misunderstood.”
When asked if there was any pressure from the hall’s VP or GS, the provost said, “No such pressure was made. They only mentioned that their shared room is often crowded due to visitors, and they requested a quieter space. I discussed the matter with the residents of 318 to see if they were willing to relocate.”
He added, “The hall administration has no authority to force any legal resident to change rooms against their will. I simply told them they could apply for a room change if they wished.”