The canteen at Arts Faculty of Chittagong University. Photo: STAR

There is no cafeteria for the students of Science and Biological Science Faculties of Chittagong University (CU) while a canteen limps at Faculty of Arts and Humanities, which remains under knee-deep water during the rainy season.
Besides, students of Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries don't have any cafeteria facility, university sources said.
As a result, students of these faculties and institute are to depend for snacks and foods on tea stalls, popularly known as 'Jhupris' (shanties), hotels and restaurants at higher prices. Most of the students attend classes without taking foods as the Jhupris, hotels and restaurants are away from their respective faculties and institute.
But the university authorities are indifferent to the problems of over 10,000 students of these faculties and institute, students alleged.
Shovon Chandra Das, a master's student at Science Faculty, said he has not only to waste time for lack of cafeteria but also count extra money for snacks as well as lunch in the 'Jhupris” or any other hotels and restaurants on the campus.
He said it is very difficult for him to go outside of the faculty for taking food and drink as he is to attend practical classes alongside theoretical classes, he said.
Most of the days he is to attend the academic activities without foods, he added.
Md Hedayet Ullah, a student of Biological Sciences Faculty, said they suffer much for want of cafeteria as the faculty is located on edge of the campus.
For taking snacks or lunch, they have to depend mainly on Cucsu canteen or hall dining that are far away from the faculty, he said.
Students go hungry most of the days as they fail to go to the hall and Chittagong University Central Students' Union (Cucsu) canteen timely, Hedayet said.
University authorities should give attention to the problem to ease sufferings of the large number of students, he said.
Quality of food at Arts Faculty canteen is not good, said Rezaul Karim, a student of the faculty. Moreover, it remains inundated under knee-deep water during the rainy season, causing sufferings to the students, he added.
Jahangir Alam, proprietor of Arts Faculty canteen, said he always tries to serve quality foods with his small investment without any subsidy from the university.
Prof Dr Md Abul Kalam Azad, dean of Science Faculty, said cafeteria problem is a long-drawn problem at science faculty though it is the oldest faculty. Due to lack of cafeteria, academic activities are also being hampered to some extent, as it is very difficult for the students to attend classes with empty stomach till afternoon, he added.
Prof Azad said installing a cafeteria for the students of Science Faculty is under process.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Anwarul Azim Arif said problems of the students will be solved in phases as everything is not possible overnight.