Aniruddha Sajjad, Campus Representative || Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University (JKKNIU) continues to face a severe accommodation crisis, with nearly 71% of its students lacking access to residential facilities.According to university data, 9,814 students are enrolled in 25 departments, while the four residential halls have a combined capacity of just 2,859. As a result, 6,955 students have to live outside the campus, mostly in rented messes.Students said monthly hall rent is only Tk 150, compared to Tk 800–1,500 in private messes. Including food, their monthly living expenses range more than Tk 6,000. Limited tutoring and part-time job opportunities in Trishal further increase their financial burden.The accommodation crisis also affects hall residents. A visit to Agnibina Hall revealed overcrowded rooms, with four students sharing small spaces. Some rooms lack ceiling fans and have damaged electrical switches and dust-related problems.To ease the crisis, two residential halls, one for male and another for female students, are being constructed under the university's infrastructure development project. Each hall will accommodate 850 students, adding 1,700 seats.Although the project began in 2018, construction contracts were signed in November 2022. After three deadline extensions, December this year has been set as the final deadline for completion.The construction contracts are worth Tk 72.05 crore for the male students' hall and Tk 70.77 crore for the female students' hall. Meanwhile, the overall project cost has increased from Tk 491.34 crore to Tk 840.56 crore.Project Director Syed Mofasserul Islam said, most of the construction work had been completed, with only minor tasks remaining. He added that the project deadline would expire in December, with no scope for further extension.Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Musharof Hossain said, the halls were initially scheduled for handover in September, but unfinished work delayed the process."The contractors have been instructed to complete the remaining work and hand over the halls by December," he said, adding that the new facilities would significantly ease the accommodation crisis.