A privately-owned cottage for the students of Chittagong University and. A student in his room at the cottage.Photo: STAR

Over 3,000 students of Chittagong University (CU) are leading an inhuman life in 75 cottages adjacent to the university as they hurdle in small rooms, lack dining space and face shortage of bathrooms and acute water crisis.
Of the cottages, S Alam Cottage, G Rahman Cottage, Bagan Bari Cottage, Titas Cottage, Nijhum Nishi Cottage, Sagor Cottage, Gulbahar Cottage, Bayezid Cottage, Hanif Manjil, Mohsin Cottage, Sher-e-Bangla Chhatrabas and Shafi Cottage are built up by the local people, sources said.
The students, who do not get seats in the university dorms or can not manage any living place in the city, usually live in the cottages. But, the students suffer much in the cottages due to insecurity, dining problems, lack of water and healthy environment. There is no gas connection for cooking meals too. They also lack toilet facilities as most of the cottages have only two bathrooms for around 50 to 60 students, forcing them to lead a substandard life.
A number of cottage residents alleged that the rooms are too small to stay as two students are to live in a place where normally one should. There is no required number of lavatories for the students and the water crisis is also acute in the cottages.
But the owners of the cottages are indifferent to the problems taking advantages of the student's vulnerability.
The students said the cottage owners increase the rent occasionally and force them to leave if they protest.
“We are bound to pay them (cottage owners) as per their wish as we have nothing to do since we are helpless,” said a resident of 'S Alam' cottage on condition of anonymity. He said facilities do not increase with the increase of house rent.
He said the cottage owners charge extra money as deposit on the first month of boarding the cottages which is an additional pressure for the students.
Security problems have also become a vital factor for the students as incidents of theft are rising alarmingly in the cottages, said Osman Goni, a cottage resident. He said the cottage owners do not pay heed to this matter leaving the students in fear.
Ajit Chandra, a masters student, who recently left the cottage due to unpleasant condition, said he was forced to leave the cottage for poor ventilation, water crisis, dining problems as well as unhygienic condition of bathrooms.
Moreover, the dependency on hall, other hotels or restaurants for taking meals is also very much bothersome, he added.
Hanif Mia, a cottage owner, however denied the allegations of the students, saying that he is trying his level best to provide facilities to the students. He said he has also a plan to give gas connection to the cottage so that the students can arrange their meals here.
Mohammad Shafi, another cottage owner, said they always take care of the students and provide services accordingly.