Gopalganj Science and Technology University (GSTU) has stepped into its 17th year, yet the institution continues to suffer from a crippling residential crisis. Sixteen years after its establishment, nearly three-quarters of its student body remain deprived of university housing, forcing thousands into expensive and insecure off-campus accommodation.

According to university sources, only 2,160 out of the total 9,320 enrolled students have secured seats across the university’s five residential halls, accommodating a mere 23.18 percent of the student body. Consequently, a staggering 7,160 students—accounting for 76.82 percent—are compelled to reside in rented apartments, private messes, and temporary lodgings in surrounding neighborhoods, often facing inflated rents and inadequate security.

Affected students have expressed deep frustration over the persistent lack of residential facilities, highlighting how high living expenses in private messes hit students from low-income families particularly hard. Student representatives and campus observers have urged the university administration and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to expedite the construction of new halls and expand existing facilities to alleviate the long-standing crisis.