For Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Haq Hall resident Aman, difficulties with accommodation and food have been a source of discouragement since he entered Dhaka University.
“Since getting admitted to the university, the accommodation and food problems have discouraged me from studies. Without proper nutritious food, where will I get the strength to continue studying?” he said.
Unhygienic and low-quality food in residential halls of Dhaka University has long remained a major concern for students.
Students say the situation is increasing malnutrition and health risks. It is affecting their daily life and academic performance. Although the university administration has taken some steps, students say there has been no meaningful improvement.
A 2023 international study by researchers from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Dhaka University and the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science detected 14 types of harmful bacteria, including E coli, in university-area canteen food.
Yet years after the publication of the study, the university administration has hardly taken any initiative to reassess food safety.
Aman added that several teachers worked on food quality and prepared a report. It was found that students receive far less nutrition than the required daily intake.
“In this situation, how will they contribute to the country’s development if their health is not ensured?” he said.
Behind the complaints lies a complex blame game. Students point to negligence by canteen operators and what they describe as indifference from the university administration. Canteen owners, however, argue they are trapped between rising costs and fixed low meal prices.
Residential students depend on hall canteens, cafeterias, messes and extensions for daily meals. But many say the reality inside those spaces pushes them elsewhere. Due to poor nutrition, low-quality ingredients, unhygienic cooking conditions and lack of cleanliness, students often turn to nearby eateries or cook in their rooms. They say the situation is similar in five female halls as well.
Prices remain tightly controlled. Meals with fish or chicken usually cost Tk50 to Tk60. Beef or mutton dishes range from Tk80 to Tk90. Egg curry costs around Tk45 per plate. Meals include lentils and “unlimited” rice. Canteen owners say this structure makes quality improvement impossible.
A vendor at Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Haq Hall said students are their main customers and they try to serve well. “But with current market prices, we cannot manage at such low rates,” he said.
For students like Mubashshir Mahmud Nibir, the issue goes beyond pricing and enters the question of institutional responsibility.
“If the administration had even a small concern for students’ physical and mental health, at least a few healthy food outlets would be visible in the campus,” he said.
He also pointed out that student leadership had previously shown interest. “Campus leaders showed interest in food quality before and after Ducsu election but failed to bring any change,” he said.
“They should have given proper guidelines and ensured monitoring in every canteen and cafeteria. Cooks should have at least minimum qualifications to ensure food quality,” Mubashshir added.
The dissatisfaction is not limited to nutrition alone. Many students say what reaches their plates often raises serious hygiene concerns. Reports on insects in food have become a recurring complaint.
Rice and curry served in different halls reportedly contained bugs, adding to concerns over safety and cleanliness. Although initial administrative action is sometimes taken, students say it does not lead to long-term improvement.
Second-year student Hasibul Alam Tahin described the problem inside hall kitchens.
“Cockroaches, rubber bands, threads and many other things are found in food. After this, how can anyone eat in the canteen?” he said.
He warned that failure to resolve the issue permanently will continue to affect students in the long run. He also called for stronger monitoring and urgent improvement in food quality.
Amid growing frustration, discussions around subsidies and stricter monitoring have emerged as possible solutions. Students and senior officials say financial support and oversight could improve conditions significantly.
Student Tahin said, “If subsidies are introduced to improve the quality of hall food, the problem could be partly resolved. CCTV cameras can be installed in canteens for monitoring. The administration must show genuine willingness in this regard.”
A senior official, requesting anonymity, said “The administration is trying its best considering students’ financial capacity and canteen budgets.”
“If the government increases the allocation, we will welcome it. Through subsidies, the administration will be able to arrange better food for students,” he added.
Md Nurul Amin, provost of Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall, said subsidies could help improve food quality.
“However, I am not aware whether the university will take such a major decision or if there has been any discussion on the matter,” he added.
He further said, “The main issue is ensuring acceptable food quality within the budget allocated for students. We are trying to maintain standards within that limit. We are also discussing with students on how to further improve the quality.”
When contacted, Convener of the Provost Standing Committee Abdullah-Al-Mamun told The Times of Bangladesh “Steps are being taken after the political shifts in the country. A house tutor has been assigned in each hall, and a committee has been formed with hall parliament representatives to carry out regular activities.”
He also said canteens facing complaints over food quality are being brought under regular monitoring.
“In some halls, we are providing limited subsidies while trying to maintain food quality. Food standards and hall conditions are discussed regularly in Provost Standing Committee meetings, and student feedback is also monitored. Through these measures, we are trying to ensure food quality,” he said.
Back inside the halls, however, the situation feels far from resolved. Between low-cost meals, rising complaints, and repeated assurances, students continue to eat the same food they question every day — waiting for a system that promises improvement but has yet to deliver it at the plate.
