It is hoped that technological advance and knowledge-sharing will soon one day help Bangladesh simplify and modernize its university admissions process.
For the time being though, visiting any number of campuses around the country to sit their individual entrance tests, and dealing with the collective headache of arranging transport, accommodation and food in the process, all for the sake of getting into a university of their liking, is established practice.
It is therefore usual to find towns and cities flooded by arrivals of students, often accompanied by one or even two guardians, on and prior to the date of the admission test at institutes they host. Many will look to stay with relatives or acquaintances in the area, but of course that would cover a very limited number. Hotels and other forms of rented accommodation must bear the brunt of it. Wherever the hospitality industry is not well-developed, this can put a severe strain on the local economy’s ability to cope with the influx.
Yet even in those places, such as Noakhali, we now have an example that shows a big heart and generous spirit can go a long way.
Over the weekend, in unprecedented scenes, locals of Noakhali opened their doors and arranged food and shelter for over 100,000 students and guardians from all over the country who came to attend the admission tests at Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU) campus on Friday.
The Union Parishad and municipal bodies also played their part, opening their offices and schools and other government buildings to accommodate the total of 70,298 candidates competing for just 1320 seats across 30 subjects, plus their guardians, that pushed the total past six figures.
But all the hotels, motels and guest houses in the city combined are able to accommodate just a fraction of that figure – around 1500, which obviously worried many people who know of the growing reputation for academic excellence NSTU is gathering as a new public university.
So the locals came forward to help the admission seekers and their guardians by opening access to the Upazila Parishad office, local mosques, madrasas and by setting up temporary accommodation using tents.
Locals are not just providing shelter, they have also been supplying food for three days starting Thursday night. The exams across different faculties started on Friday, and end today (Sunday).
Noakhali Sadar Upazila Chairman Shihab Uddin Selim told UNB students and guardians here for the NSTU entrance exam will get their ‘services’ for free till Sunday.
He said the arrangement they came up with not only made the admission-seeking students and their guardians happy, it also felt secure to them. Members of Bangladesh Red Crescent and scouts are found working day and night to ensure safety.
"Maybe all of these students will not be able to get admission here. But it proved the hospitality of Noakhali’s people. We hope to do it again in future,” the chairman proudly proclaimed.
Expressing his appreciation and gratitude, Sujon, a student who came from Sylhet to sit for the test said, “We are overwhelmed with their support. We will remember their hospitality throughout our life.”
Fatema Hossain, another student keen to express her gratitude, said, “The arrangements by the Noakhali people have changed our perception about them. It will never be forgotten.”
Gradually with more and more incidents such as this, the pejorative use of the word ‘Noakhailla,’ still prevalent in the country, can hopefully be erased forever.