Almost all halls of Dhaka University has a ‘guest room’. It’s alleged that students are often tortured in these rooms. The accusation is levelled at the student body aligned to the ruling party.
Several leaders of other student bodies have said that such abominable acts have been going on for ages due to the silence of the administration.
Students accused of being Jamaat sympathisers are taken to these rooms and also those whose Facebook posts take a critical stance on any issue.
A second year student says: “We were often taken to these rooms if we do not take part in political rallies; during the day these are used as guest rooms but at night, they become torture chambers for political opponents of the ruling union.”
Reportedly, there is a chain of command. The freshmen are called up by second year students while the latter by their third year seniors. The system goes up to the Masters level.
New students are forced to become party members through indoctrination sessions at the guest rooms, alleged a student.
“If we do not take part at political rallies, we are termed Jamaat members,” said a student.
However, Bangladesh Chhatra League general secretary Lekhak Bhatyacharya, said: “We share our views at the guest rooms; no one is forced to come here.”
Chhatra League president Al Nahian Khan Joy, added: “The Guest room is a part of political culture and students will go there spontaneously; we will not force anyone.”
President of Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Foyez Ullah, said: “In the name of teaching guest room manners, THE student body of the ruling party tortures others.”
A few days ago, three students were evicted from F H Hall. One of them was a Chhatra Federation worker.
The provost of hall at that time Dr Mizanur Rahman, confirming the news said: “I asked the resident teachers to take action. The students were readmited to the hall.”
Dhaka University VC, Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman, said: “We have guest rooms at halls but I do not know of any torture taking place at these rooms. If anyone carries out nefarious deeds in these rooms, the university authority will take a very stern step.”