Students struggling with rising food prices at DU dorm canteens

Many students of Dhaka University are facing difficulties as meal prices in the dorm canteens have increased by up to 25 percent since the pandemic.

While prices have gone up, the food quality has not improved, they said.

The situation has reached a point where students were having to forego one meal a day and other necessary expenses.

There are 19 residential halls at DU and each has a canteen operated by private owners. The authorities give lease and provide facilities to the canteen owners.

Sayeed (not his real name), one of the residential students of Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall, said he receives TK 4,500 allowance per month from his mother, who is a garment worker.

"I depend on my mother's income and often skip breakfast to save money," the student said.

Hasan, another first-year student, gets an allowance of Tk 3,000 from his father, who is a farmer, but finds it insufficient due to rising food prices.

"Before Covid, I used to spend Tk 2,500-3,000 a month on canteen food. Now it has risen to Tk 4,500 to 5,000, but the quality hasn't improved," Nur Nabi, another frustrated student, said.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost of one portion of chicken was Tk 40, and fish was Tk 30-35, according to the price charts. These prices have now gone up by Tk 5-10.

At Surja Sen Hall, chicken is sold for Tk 50, beef Tk 60, Powa fish for Tk 50, and gourd for Tk 10.

Kabi Jasimuddin Hall charges Tk 65 for beef, Tk 60 for duck, Tk 50 for chicken, and Tk 50 for fish.

Mohammad Shahin Khan, the hall's provost, said the authorities have fixed the prices.

"The prices are a bit higher than before due to rising commodity prices," he said, adding that reducing prices would mean compromising with nutrition and hygiene.

At Bijoy Ekattor Hall, the price of chicken is Tk 50 and for fish Tk 45.

When asked about the increased prices, Prof Abdur Rahim, provost of Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall, said the price chart is approved by the authority.

"We've set a standard for food prices. If canteen owners charge more, we will address it."

Vice-Chancellor Akhtaruzzaman acknowledged students' challenges. "Students are facing hurdles due to market inflation, but they are resilient. I salute their resilience."

"Prices are high, but we have no other option," said canteen owner Dalim Sarker of Jatir Janak Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall.

Prof Selim Raihan, from the Department of Economics and executive director of the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (Sanem), said, "University authorities should promptly address price increases, regularly monitor food quality in dorms, and increase government funding for education in response to rising prices."