The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Most house tutors in Dhaka University (DU) residential halls are seldom found on duty although they have been enjoying all facilities provided by the authorities to carry out their responsibilities properly.

According to the DU ordinance and regulations amended up to 1997, the roles of house tutors include monitoring the arrival and departure of residential students in and out of their halls.

They are also supposed to call the roll and seek explanation from the absentees, check leave applications and look after dining rooms, canteens, furniture and other property of the residential halls.

Professor Jahidul Islam, provost of Zahurul Haque Hall, said the house tutors do not visit the respective residential halls regularly. "They neglect their duties", he said adding that the students would have been more benefited had the house tutors paid more attention to them.

A residential student of Zahurul Haque Hall told BSS that the post of house tutor should be upgraded to assistant provost with more responsibilities.

According to the university budget book, DU allocated Taka 31.43 lakh under the head of allowance for the provosts and house tutors of 19 dormitories for the financial year 2007-08.

The DU has at least 120 house tutors and 70 assistant house tutors at 19 dormitories, official sources said. Had the house tutors been regular on duty, they said, the students would not have faced accommodation crisis and the outsiders could not occupy the seats.

Mansur Alam, a residential student of Zahurul Haque Hall, told BSS that he had to wait for months to meet a house tutor to get a seat. "If the house tutors visit hall canteens regularly, the students can have better meal everyday," he said.

The DU authorities provide Taka 1,000 in extra allowance to each house tutor and Taka 800 to each assistant house tutor. Besides, they get residential flats close to each dormitory on condition of carrying out their responsibilities regularly.