Poor quality of food in the canteens remains a nagging problem for the residential students of Dhaka University, even in the now “politically influence-free” halls.
After the July 2024 mass uprising, there were renewed demands for wholesome and nutritious meals in the halls. Yet, despite various initiatives by the administration, there has been little noticeable improvement.
Anik Hasan, who sat his higher secondary examinations at a government college in Jhenaidah before enrolling in the Department of World Religions and Culture at Dhaka University, began his hall life in Dhaka with high hopes. But his first meal at the hall canteen left him frustrated. Although he continued eating there out of necessity, he soon fell ill.
Initially, it was suspected that he had contracted dengue, but medical reports revealed that the real cause was “unhygienic and low-quality food.”
“I ate at the hall for the first month and a half, but after seeing the medical report, I stopped. Now I eat at Buet — the price is a bit higher, but the quality is much better,” he told the TIMES of Bangladesh.
Countless students face the same reality every day: insects in the food, foul smells, or unhygienic kitchen conditions that force many to eat at shops outside the campus.
Interviews with at least 70 residential students revealed that most share the same complaints. With no visible improvement in food quality, many avoid their own hall canteens altogether.
However, the situation is slightly different in some halls. Nazimus Sakib, a resident of Bangabandhu Hall, said, “Our new canteen is slightly more expensive, but the environment and taste are quite satisfactory.”
Following the July 2024 movement, the administration took several steps, forming Food Monitoring Teams in every hall. These teams include student representatives and are supervised by house tutors.
Dr Abdullah Al Mamun, chief executive of the Dhaka University Provost Standing Committee, said, “In many halls the canteen fee has been reduced by up to two thousand taka, and in some cases waived entirely, to encourage quality improvement.”
However, students allege that insects or unexpected objects are still frequently found in their meals. Recently, a dead cockroach found in a mutton curry at Surya Sen Hall triggered a wave of criticism on social media.
The hall provost, Professor Rafiqul Islam, said, “The monitoring team now inspects two to three times a week. The incident was completely unexpected. The canteen owner has been warned and served a show-cause notice.”
Women’s halls are no exception. Saifa Islam, a resident of Shamsunnahar Hall, said, “The kitchen is extremely dirty, and both the quality and nutritional value of the food are poor. We have filed complaints, but nothing has changed.”
Attempts to reach Professor Dr Nasrin Sultana, the hall provost, were unsuccessful.
A 2023 international study detected 14 types of harmful bacteria — including the deadly E. coli — in food from university-area canteens. The research was conducted by Assistant Professor Progati Bokshi of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Dhaka University Professor Sanjukta Ahsan, and Professor Sharmin Rumi Alim of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science. Yet two years after the publication of the study, the university administration has hardly taken any initiative to reassess food safety.
Improving food quality was a prominent pledge in almost all manifestos during the recent DUCSU and hall union elections. Newly elected hall representatives say they are prioritising the issue. Ahsan Habib Imroz, vice-president of the Sergeant Zahurul Haq Hall Union, said that canteen owners have been instructed to send daily photos of raw ingredients to the hall union group so students can see what they are eating and how safe the food is.
Students believe political influence was a major reason behind the long-standing crisis. In nearly every hall, now banned Chhatra League leaders used to pile up unpaid bills, placing financial pressure on canteen owners — with students ultimately bearing the consequences.
But even now, with no single political group exerting dominance, students say the expected improvement is yet to come.
Students have two dining options: the dining hall (mess), which is run under students’ supervision and offers cheaper and better-quality meals, and the lease-based canteen, where prices are higher but standards low.
There is no specific policy or subsidy from the university to ensure food quality and nutrition. Students argue that increased administrative subsidies and monitoring would improve both food quality and the overall environment.
