Room 101 of Dhaka University's traditional Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall has finally been liberated from occupation, a room that had deprived students of their rights for over four decades. Last Friday, September 11, the hall's student parliament, through a special initiative, recovered the room and opened it for student use, sparking new discussions on campus. This move has set a positive precedent in solving students' accommodation problems and improving the hall's environment.
According to hall sources, Room 101 of the main building of Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall had been under illegal occupation since at least 1980 or even earlier. Although designated for student residential use since its establishment, it remained beyond students' reach for a long time. It was later revealed that some hall staff members used this room for their personal purposes, rendering a significant space allocated for students purposeless. This long-standing occupation had become a source of dissatisfaction among the hall's students.
Last Friday, after Juma prayers, the process of officially liberating the room was carried out under the initiative of the hall's student parliament. AGS Mohsin Uddin Shafi and GS Imamul Hasan of the hall's student parliament were actively present during this operation. Under their leadership, members of the hall parliament inspected the room and announced its preparation for students once again. This step is considered a solution to a long-standing problem of the hall and has brought relief to students.
Leaders of the hall's student parliament have stated that from now on, this liberated room will be used for various essential purposes by the hall's students. AGS Mohsin Uddin Shafi of the hall's student parliament informed that recovering various occupied rooms in the hall had been one of their primary goals since the 2025 DUCSU elections. In line with that, Room 101 was successfully liberated with the unanimous consent of all members of the hall's student parliament. This is not just the recovery of a room, but a reflection of their commitment to upholding students' rights and proof of their dedication to a healthy campus life.
Regarding this, VP Khandaker Abu Naim of the hall's student parliament said, 'The residential rooms of the hall are the fundamental rights of legitimate students. We are working tirelessly to secure these rights for the hall's students and will remain uncompromising in protecting student interests in the future.' His statement has instilled hope among students and given positive indications regarding the recovery of other occupied rooms in the hall. He further added that their main objective is to ensure a fair and safe residential environment for students.
It is noteworthy that this traditional Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall of Dhaka University, established in 1940, was primarily founded to provide residential facilities for science faculty students of the university. Linguist Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah was the first provost of this hall. The hall's student parliament has confirmed that Room 101 was also designated for student use since its inception, thus regaining its original purpose after four long decades. This historical context further enhances the significance of the room's recovery.
This incident is not limited to Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall alone, but carries a symbolic message of restoring student rights across the entire Dhaka University campus. This step is a significant milestone in breaking away from the long-standing culture of occupation and ensuring a healthy and safe residential environment for students. It is hoped that this initiative will encourage other halls to recover their occupied spaces and create a more favorable environment for students, thereby enhancing the university's overall image.
