RUCSU's Shibir-backed panel gives a deep freeze to each of Rajshahi University's 11 boys' halls

The Sammilito Shikkharthi Jote, the Chhatra Shibir-backed panel that won the Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (RUCSU) election, has given one deep freeze to each of the 11 boys' residential halls at Rajshahi University.

The freezers were handed over to the hall councils at a programme held at the RUCSU building premises on the university campus at noon on Wednesday (28 October).

RUCSU leaders said the initiative was taken as part of meeting students' long-standing demand and implementing their election manifesto. They said the freezers were not bought with RUCSU fund money; sponsors were collected from various sources to arrange them.

Receiving a freezer, Shah Makhdum Hall VP Shamim Patwary said that since the Shibir-backed panel's landslide victory in the hall and RUCSU elections on 16 October last year, they had been trying to work in the halls and on campus, and that their funds were limited.

Shamim Patwary added that at the start of this month the hall councils had submitted a memorandum to the vice-chancellor demanding freezers, a gymnasium and a computer lab. Although no money was arranged from the administration or the RUCSU fund, he thanked RUCSU for collecting sponsors through its own initiative to provide the freezers.

RUCSU AGS Salman Sabbir said one of their pledges to students was to gift a deep freeze to every residential hall, and they had been able to fulfil that pledge. He remarked, however, that these freezers might not be enough for all students.

Salman Sabbir added that the university administration had also pledged to provide freezers. He said they wanted to show students that much is possible with goodwill and honest intent.

RUCSU VP Mustakur Rahman Zahid said there had been a long-standing demand for freezers in the residential halls to preserve food. As the boys' halls had no freezers, the Sammilito Shikkharthi Jote arranged them through its own initiative.

Mustakur Rahman Zahid said freezers were being given to all the boys' halls in the first phase, and an attempt would be made to give freezers to the girls' halls in the next phase. He added that even after RUCSU's term ends, their work for students' welfare would continue on behalf of Chhatra Shibir.