Crab found in Dhaka University canteen food

Students' long-standing complaints about the quality of food in Dhaka University's hall canteens have come to the fore again. Recently, Md. Said Munshi, a student of Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall, found a whole crab in the rice and curry while eating at the nearby Masterda Surya Sen Hall canteen. Seeing the incident, he could not hold back his vomiting. He alleged that flies and insects were found in the food in the same hall before. Not only this hall, but many canteens of the university are serving such low-quality and unhealthy food.

Students say that due to mismanagement, low-quality ingredients and cooking in an unhygienic environment, they are suffering from malnutrition and various illnesses in the long term. Tanvir Hasan, a student of the Department of World Religions and Culture, said that he was sick for one and a half months after eating the hall food. Insects are often found in the food and low-quality vegetables are used. On the other hand, canteen managers say that it is not possible to provide students with cheap quality food due to the rise in prices.

The kitchens of the canteens have been found to be unhygienic and damp. Flies are sitting on open food, and the same food is being served to the students. In many places, child laborers are involved in cooking and serving, but they have no idea about hygiene. However, students are charged 50 to 70 taka for a simple meal every day. Still, the quality of the food remains low.

The students believe that it is possible to improve the quality of the food if the university authorities provide subsidies. They have also suggested installing CCTV cameras in the canteen for monitoring. Anika Tamjid, a student of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, said that almost the same type of food is served every day, which makes students reluctant to eat. Sometimes, cooking is not done on the pretext of lack of gas.

Meanwhile, the newly elected leaders of DUCSU have promised to take initiatives to solve this problem of the students. The newly elected General Secretary SM Farhad said that an effective solution will be found through discussions with all stakeholders. Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed also said that the administration will soon take steps to improve the quality of food in the canteen in coordination with the representatives of the student union.

Students say that quality food is served in the neighboring BUET canteen. Although the price of food there is a little higher, they can adapt. Therefore, if the Dhaka University authorities want, they can meet the basic needs of students through effective measures and subsidies. Otherwise, the students will continue to suffer from the problem of low-quality and unhealthy food for a long time.