Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Vice-Chancellor Dr Md Khairul Islam has stepped in to help a first-year student who had been spending nights in a mosque or the university’s TV room for the past three months after failing to secure a seat in a residential hall.

The Vice-Chancellor called Nishan Hossain, a student of the Department of Political Studies, to his office on Wednesday morning and took steps to arrange temporary accommodation and provide him with financial assistance.

Nishan, a first-year student from the 2025-26 academic session, had been struggling to find accommodation because he could not afford a room in a private mess.

Sources said the issue had been brought to the hall provost's attention several times, but no residential seat had been arranged for him.

 VC Md Khairul Islam said the financial assistance was given to Nishan from the university’s student welfare fund to help cover his immediate expenses.

“The head of his department is also very supportive regarding his situation,” he added.

Regarding Nishan’s accommodation, Prof Khairul said steps had been taken to arrange a residential seat for him.

“The department head will speak with the hall provost about the seat. For the time being, he will stay in the room of a senior student from the Department of Food Engineering and Tea Technology,” he said.

Arrangements have also been made for Nishan’s meals.

The Provost of Syed Mujtaba Ali Hall confirmed that he will bear the cost of Nishan’s three meals a day, Prof Khairul said.