The transport section of Jamalpur Science and Technology University (JSTU) is facing a severe crisis due to a shortage of manpower and vehicles, leaving students to travel to the 12-kilometre-away campus amid growing safety concerns.
The university currently operates four own buses and one rented local bus for students. However, only three drivers are available for the four university buses, while just one helper is responsible for their maintenance and support. The helper is reportedly working as a security guard.
Sources said the shortage of helpers has disrupted smooth bus operations. Several buses have previously faced accident risks due to uncontrolled movement without adequate support staff. In one case, the university reportedly had to pay Tk30,000 in compensation following a road accident.
Around 81 per cent of students travel daily from Jamalpur city to the campus by bus. But the existing transport capacity is far below demand. During peak hours after classes and examinations, buses often carry nearly double their capacity, forcing hundreds of students to travel in overcrowded and unsafe conditions.
A student from Department of Social Work, Mohammad Al Amin, said students are suffering due to the poor transport system. He said the lack of helpers and overcrowding have made daily journeys risky, with many students forced to stand or hang from buses due to a lack of space.
University Registrar Md Sarwar Jahan said transport management is currently being handled through separate arrangements for large buses and smaller vehicles. He said a proposal for creating new posts, including helpers, has already been sent to the University Grants Commission (UGC).
He added that as there is currently no approval to purchase new buses, the university is considering hiring buses on a contractual basis to reduce students’ suffering.
