According to the university's admission section, about 5,010 students were admitted against 4,534 seats, which means 476 additional students got admission in 2005-2006 session. Sources said the number of additional students could be more.

During the session, 1,502 students were admitted against 1,071 seats in the arts faculty alone.

The practice began three to four years back almost at every department under the social science and arts faculties, sources in the admission section said.

Students and some teachers alleged that the university already lacks adequate classrooms and addition of extra students each year is making the crisis more complex.

"Very often it has happened that we found an empty classroom after a long search and started the class, but then we had to stop abruptly because the room was scheduled for another class," said a second year student of Islamic Studies.

"This unplanned admission is heavily affecting the university's academic activities, students' accommodation and transportation," Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman, former general secretary of Dhaka University Teachers' Association, said terming the process illegal.

The general admission committee in its annual meeting frames rules and regulations of the admission process and also fixes the number of students to be admitted. The vice-chancellor chairs the meeting.

According to section 38 of the rules of the general admission committee, a faculty dean can admit additional students after discussion with the departments concerned. Taking opportunity of this section, the departments are admitting additional students, sources alleged.

Names of additional students were found in the register books of a number of departments, including Bangla, Islamic Studies, Arabic, Urdu and Persian, Pali and Sanskrit.

Meanwhile, the rules of the general admission committee allow less than two students for admission in each department in addition to fixed seats.

Many alleged that arts faculty Dean Sadrul Amin has been giving permission to admit additional students using loopholes in the rules of the general admission committee.

When contacted, Amin admitted the allegation and said, "Where is the problem if additional students can study here and get benefits?"

The arts faculty dean also said, "There are rules that allow deans to increase the number of students."

Dean of the social sciences faculty Harun-Or-Rashid said sometimes chairmen of some departments come up with requests to increase the number of students for admission.

"But we do not allow additional students in our faculty. There are limitations at the university, so unplanned increase in the number of students is not realistic, especially after the semester system has been introduced," he said.

Replying to a query, Harun said, "The dean can allow admission of additional students according to the rules but before that we should think about the necessity of admitting additional students and also our capacity."

Talking to The Daily Star, a number of teachers and admission section officials said there is much haziness in the existing rules and regulations and that they should be reviewed.

VC SMA Faiz said he supported the matter as the deans take decisions after discussion with the departments.