Six Decades On, Rajshahi University Library Still Inaccessible to Students with Disabilities

For students at Rajshahi University (RU), the central library is a place for exam preparation, research and long hours of study. But for many students with disabilities, access to the library effectively ends before they can enter it, with no ramp at the entrance, no lift to the second floor and no accessible washroom.

Established in 1964, the university’s central library has more than 500 seats across its general reading rooms, two discussion rooms and reference room, according to the library administration. However, none of these facilities has an environment adequately equipped for students with disabilities.

More than 30,000 students currently study at RU, including around 300 students with physical disabilities across different departments. Students with mobility, visual and congenital disabilities often cannot use campus facilities in the same way as other students.

Despite the university being 73 years old, the lack of accessible facilities at its central library has raised questions about equal access to higher education. Students and representatives have called for ramps, lifts, accessible washrooms and other necessary infrastructure.

“This is very unfortunate. However, a budget has already been allocated for them. It will take some time. We have taken up so many projects at once, and there is also a shortage of competent people to assist me. I hope we can complete the library work very soon. Not just the library, every washroom will have separate facilities for them. Lifts, ramps and whatever else is needed will also be provided.”— Professor Md Faridul Islam, Vice-Chancellor, Rajshahi University

‘I could not enter the library’

Md Rifat Rahman, a fourth-year student of the Department of Law who uses a wheelchair, has never been able to enter the university library during his four years on campus.

“I am a wheelchair user. The library is part of my four-year campus journey. In these four years, I have been to the veranda of the library, but I could not enter the library. It is not that I did not need it or that I was not good at studying. The issue is that I could not enter. There was no environment there that allowed me to enter.”— Md Rifat Rahman, fourth-year Law student, Rajshahi University

Rifat said there is neither a lift nor a ramp to reach the second floor, where the reading room is located. There is also no suitable washroom for students with disabilities who need to spend extended periods studying at the library.

He said access to the library should not be treated as an act of charity or compassion, but as a legal right under the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013. He also called for an accessible washroom and a lift or ramp to the second-floor reading room.

Rifat said students with disabilities are effectively being denied equal educational opportunities because other students can use the library while students like him cannot. He urged the university administration to ensure the facilities guaranteed under the law and implement the necessary measures as soon as possible.

Visually impaired students also lack facilities

Naim Hossain, a history student who has been visually impaired since birth, said there is no dedicated space for students like him at the university.

He said there is no suitable environment for visually impaired students to study at the library and that they are being deprived of necessary facilities. While some other universities have Braille systems for visually impaired students, RU does not have such a system, he said.

Naim called on the administration to address the issue and ensure equal opportunities for students with disabilities. Abdullah Al Masud, social welfare secretary of the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (Raksu), said he had discussed the issue with the vice-chancellor several times, including in detail about one and a half months ago.

According to him, the vice-chancellor had then said the work would be completed within a week, but no visible progress has been made. A list of equipment required for students with disabilities at the library had also been submitted, and although the budget may have been approved, the equipment has not yet been purchased.

Masud said he had also proposed a lift or arrangements on the ground floor for students who cannot use stairs or rely on wheelchairs. He said the administration had promised to take action within seven days, but the promised work had not been completed even after one and a half months.

Administration says work is underway

Library administrator Professor Dr Md Habibul Islam said the administration had been informed about the students’ demands and was taking the matter seriously.

He said the administration was working positively on the issue and that a result could be seen within a few days. He added that the university was also trying to determine, with the help of engineers, what improvements could be made within the existing library system.

The vice-chancellor said the university would provide the necessary accessibility measures, including lifts, ramps and accessible washrooms, once the work is completed.