Hostel for ethnic students lies unused as wrong spot chosen

A hostel for students built four years ago in Sadar upazila lies unused as there are no villages of indigenous people, or even educational institutions, near it.

Bandarban Hill District Council (BHDC) built the hostel for Kyang students in Lemujiri area under Sadar upazila in 2014.

This correspondent came under verbal attack by Thowai Chaw Mong Marma, sub-assistant engineer of the project, when asked about the hostel.  

Kwe Shwe Hla, chairman of BHDC and president of ruling party Bandarban district unit, warned this correspondent not to go to his office for any information.

“Don't come again to my office for any information,” the chairman said.

“The hostel was built in a totally unplanned way by cutting hills early in 2014-2015 fiscal year. Kyang students are not interested in staying in the hostel as it is situated in a secluded area,” said Mra Sa Kyang, a Kyang leader and also member of BHDC.

“It is really a matter of sorrow that the newly built hostel has remained unused for the last four years,” said Md Mahbubur Rahman, executive engineer of BHDC.