Concerns Over Revival of 'Ganaroom-Guestroom' Culture at Dhaka University

The notorious "Ganaroom-Guestroom" practice, once a significant tool of the banned student organization Chhatra League, wreaked havoc on thousands of students and their families’ dreams at various educational institutions, particularly at Dhaka University (DU). This practice, prevalent in DU’s 18 residential halls, led many innocent students, especially those from rural areas, astray. Although the fall of the Awami League led to the collapse of this oppressive system, conscious students and teachers at the university now fear its potential revival. They warn that unless seats in the halls are allocated to students in a timely manner and academic activities commence promptly, the "Ganaroom-Guestroom" culture could resurface.

It has been reported that the academic session for the 2024-25 academic year at DU is set to begin tomorrow, Wednesday. However, despite clear instructions regarding classes, most students, particularly those from remote areas, have not yet been allocated hall seats. Many halls have not even initiated the seat allocation process, leaving students in distress. Rural students, in particular, are grappling with acute anxiety over accommodation.

For now, many students are relying on temporary arrangements facilitated by their "senior brothers" from their hometowns or through politically affiliated students to secure a place in the halls. Both students and faculty members point out that this is precisely how Chhatra League once established "Ganaroom" spaces in DU halls, which later evolved into notorious "Guestroom" torture cells. A hall provost, speaking anonymously to stated that the admission tests for this session were held four months ago. Had the Dean’s offices provided detailed hall allocation information by May or June, seat allocations could have been completed before the start of classes. However, many students are yet to complete the hall admission process, making it a time-consuming task to initiate seat allocation. Professor Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman, provost of Sheikh Mujib Hall, explained that once the student admission process is complete, the university’s administrative office sends registration and roll numbers to the respective halls. Halls then issue notices inviting applications for seat allocation, verify applicant details, conduct viva voce, and finally allocate seats. This entire process, he noted, takes at least two weeks. He added that his hall was allocated 447 students, but over 30 have yet to complete their admission process. If classes begin before the seat allocation is finalized, students will face significant challenges securing accommodation. With classes starting and no seats allocated in the halls, new students are in a precarious situation. Many fear that allowing students to stay in halls without proper seat allocation, even on humanitarian grounds, could pave the way for the return of the "Ganaroom-Guestroom" culture. Musaddiq Ali Ibne Mohammad, a student of DU’s Bangla Department, told *Kalbela* that in the past, the seat allocation process was deliberately delayed to exploit students for political rallies and meetings, turning them into loyal followers of Chhatra League. He expressed concern that the failure to allocate seats before classes begin could be exploited by student organizations that come to power, potentially reviving the "Ganaroom-Guestroom" system. Meanwhile, new students submitted a four-point demand to the university administration yesterday, calling for guaranteed accommodation before classes start, stipends or allowances for students facing delays in seat allocation, prioritizing merit-based admissions over quota-based ones, and introducing manual migration. The DU branch of Chhatra Shibir also demanded a clear accommodation plan to address the crisis. In a memorandum submitted last Sunday, they called for canceling the seats of students whose residential eligibility has expired, ensuring transparency, accountability, and political neutrality in seat allocation. The DU branch of Chhatra Dal and the Socialist Students’ Front have also issued statements urging the university administration to ensure that the "Ganaroom-Guestroom" culture does not return. Chhatra Dal demanded proper accommodation facilities for all applicants and support through accommodation stipends for those who do not receive seats. The Socialist Students’ Front echoed similar concerns. When contacted for comment, DU’s Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed, asked the reporter to call back later. Despite multiple attempts to reach him an hour later, he was unavailable.