During the previous Awami League government, many public university campuses were reportedly under the control of Chhatra League leaders and activists. They were even involved in extortion at campus canteens and dining halls, which directly affected the quality and pricing of food. After the fall of the Awami League government in the July uprising last year, the situation improved somewhat. Following August 5, the food quality and pricing at canteens became satisfactory for a short period. However, things have since returned to their previous state. Students claim this decline is due to the greed and unethical practices of canteen operators and a lack of oversight from university administrations.

Students at almost all public universities, including the University of Dhaka, continue to express dissatisfaction over the quality and price of food served at campus canteens. Many are facing health issues after consuming substandard, unhygienic meals that lack adequate nutrition. According to students, most canteens and dining halls do not serve healthy, nutritious food. Kitchen conditions are poor, fish and meat are not properly cleaned—sometimes dirt remains inside the fish, and meat is often undercooked. In some cases, insects have even been found in the food. There have also been reports of harmful-tasting salt being used in meals.

Dhaka University has around 50 canteens across its 18 residential halls and various campus spots. In some of these canteens, tasting salt cheaply enhances flavor. Experts warn that this additive contains monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is extremely harmful to the nervous system. Regular consumption through food may lead to cancer, memory loss, headaches, chest pressure, breathing difficulties, and serious neurological diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Professor Dr. Nazma Shaheen of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science told Bonik Barta, "Tasting salt can lead to cardiovascular disease, premature death, and various neurological complications. It causes numbness in the tongue and stiffness in the neck. When used alongside regular salt to enhance flavor, it significantly increases the sodium content in food, which can result in seizures, breathing problems, headaches, and even brain tumors."

Concerns also persist over the nutritional value of food served at Dhaka University's canteens. A study conducted several years ago titled "Food and Dhaka University: A Report" revealed that students who rely on hall canteens and mess meals receive a maximum of 1,449 kilocalories per day. However, a university student typically needs around 2,800 to 3,000 kilocalories daily, depending on age and physical activity, to maintain proper health and energy levels.

Addressing the issue, Professor Dr. Sayema Haque Bidisha, pro-vice-chancellor (Administration) of Dhaka University, told Bonik Barta, "We have already informed the hall provosts to take the initiative regarding food quality. A committee has been formed under the supervision of a house tutor to monitor food standards. They've been instructed to take immediate action upon receiving student complaints."

She added that plans are also in place to improve the long-term nutritional quality of campus food and diversify cafeteria menus across campus through consultation with faculty, students, and other stakeholders.

Each of the five residential halls at Comilla University (CU) has a dining facility. Students pay for the meals at these dining halls, and since there is no subsidy from the administration, students are forced to eat low-quality food. There is also a central cafeteria on campus. Rakibul Hasan, a Master's student in the Anthropology Department at the university, told Bonik Barta that no place on campus offers good-quality food, not even the cafeteria. He believes that if the university administration were to provide subsidies, the quality of food could improve.

Chittagong University (CU) has around 20 canteens and dining halls across the residential halls and campus. While the food quality at hall dining halls, where students have control, is generally satisfactory, there is dissatisfaction with the food quality at the campus canteens. Students have reported that the canteens are neither environmentally friendly nor hygienic, and have high prices. One student from the 2018-19 batch, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Bonik Barta, "It used to be said that prices went up because students were forced to pay fees to Chhatra League. Now, why are extra charges still being applied? The locals are primarily the ones charging higher prices to students. The administration needs to look into this matter."

At Bangladesh Agricultural University, there are over 30 canteens and dining facilities in total. Among these, 10-12 canteens are located outside the residential halls. Students have mentioned that while the quality of food at the dining halls inside the halls is controlled, the nutritional value of the food served outside is not up to standard for the price. The kitchen environments are not hygienic, and after a change of ownership, the food quality improves for a few days, but soon returns to the previous state.

Jagannath University, an off-campus university, has only two canteens or dining facilities. According to students, the food quality in both canteens is subpar and neither nutritious nor healthy. The overall environment of the canteens is also poor.

The Islamic University in Kushtia has nine canteens and dining halls, including eight in the residential halls. Students have stated that while the prices are reasonable according to the portion size, the overall environment and food quality are not good. Due to the unhygienic environment, many students face difficulty eating. Occasionally, faculty members conduct inspections at the canteens, and things improve for two or three days. However, the situation soon returns to normal, with the same issues reappearing.

At Rajshahi University (RU), students have reported some improvement in food quality, quantity, and nutritional value in the residential halls. The administration and concerned authorities believe that direct supervision, increased awareness, and the dedication of the stakeholders have led to a decrease in malnutrition and health complications among students. However, many students have expressed dissatisfaction with the food quality and prices in the university's cafeteria. One student mentioned, "The rice is often hard, and the dal is almost like water. There is no flavor or thickness to it."

The convener of the Provost Council, Professor Dr. Mohammad Jamirul Islam, told Bonik Barta, "Earlier, we often saw students suffering from malnutrition and health issues, but now we haven't received such complaints. We are trying to maintain the quality and quantity of food. However, there is still room for further quality improvement."

Dr. Md. Amirul Islam (Konok), the student adviser of Rajshahi University, shared with Bonik Barta, "Most of our students come from middle-class or lower-middle-class families. Even though we want to improve food quality and provide adequate nutrition, we cannot increase the price of meals at the dining halls. I urge the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the government to allocate a specific budget for the dining sector and provide additional funding. This would help improve the quality of food."

In response, UGC Chairman SMA Faiz told Bonik Barta, "The food quality in public universities is unsatisfactory. It is essential to take steps to address this issue. The universities themselves need to take the initiative. If they require any assistance, we will try to support them."