Sorry state of library space

Waiting in long queues with heavy bags on their shoulders, Jahangirnagar University students are forced to fight for library seats starting early morning, particularly in the absence of sufficient space. Despite lining up from between 6:30am and 7:30am, they sometimes have to return empty handed, having wasted precious time and energy for study. We sympathise with their sufferings for lack of library and study space.

It is already well known how congested our public university dormitories are. So much so that students often have to floor in halls. Amidst such congestion in dormitories and the lack of library space, how are students supposed to get their studies done at all, let alone comfortably? Compounding their troubles, people not belonging to the university take up whatever limited space there is for students at the JU library. A grim picture of library facilities in our most prestigious university — Dhaka University — was already portrayed in images published in this newspaper earlier this year. And the same can be said to be the case in other public universities across the country.

This cannot be allowed to continue. Education is the backbone of any nation. Thus, the authorities should set up a powerful committee with the UGC to look into these aspects and suggest measures that should be implemented by the government quickly. To create an illumined society, more emphasis on education and increased funding in the sector, we believe, is indispensible. 

looked at its backyard seriously and put its own house in order.