DU students deprived as central field often leased out

Despite having a large central playground, the students of Dhaka University (DU) can hardly play on it as the university authorities rent it out mostly to outsiders.

Even though the DU students are massively disappointed with the matter, the university authorities think otherwise. 

It is learnt that the university’s authorities frequently lease out the playground -- adjacent to the university gym -- to various organizations and sports clubs on several occasions. This means outsiders including those from schools and colleges are mostly active on the ground.

However, the Dhaka University Central Playground, as it is called, is supposed to be used only by the DU students. 

The DU has three more large playgrounds -- one adjacent to Jagannath Hall, Haji Muhammad Mohshin Hall and Sergent Zahurul Haq Hall each.

Of those, the Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall ground is open for public use. The Jahurul Haq Hall and Jagannath Hall fields can be used only by Dhaka University students and university authorities. But those also remain occupied for various functions like sports and debate competitions, and religious festivals such as Swaraswati Puja.

 Asked about the DU central field, Shahjahan Ali, director (acting) of the DU Physical Education Center, said that the matter of renting out the central ground is legal.

“This matter is centrally managed by the syndicate members and is under the supervision of a special board. The board takes decisions as to whom to rent out the field while fixing the charge,” he said.

The central playground is usually rented out for Friday and Saturday mornings.

Tk 34,000 is charged for an athletics event, Tk 17,500 for each football match, Tk 75,000 for a football tournament and Tk 34,500 for a cricket tournament.

The money earned from renting out the grounds is used for the sports-related activities at DU, officials said.

Against the frustration of the DU students regarding the occupation of the fields, Proctor Dr Mohammad Maksudur Rahman climed that the pupils face no issues of the fields are leased out.

 “This is because even if one side of the field is rented out, the other side remains open for the students to play,” he argued.

Abrar Nadeem Mumshad, a second-year student of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, said, "I go to the central field to play football with my friends in the afternoon.

“But I find only half the space available as the students of nearby schools and colleges use it. Irritatingly, much to our disappointment, they don’t even leave the field despite our repeated calls,” said a frustrated Nadeem.

In this regard, the recently former DU vice-chancellor, Prof Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman, said, “During my tenure, I had objected to this matter. Renting out any university ground to outsiders is never desirable.”