DU to allow married female students’ stay in halls

Hall provosts of Dhaka University have recommended withdrawing the restrictions on married female students’ stay in residential halls.

They have also recommended not allowing pregnant students to stay in dorms considering the health risks of both the mother and the unborn baby.

The decisions were made at the provost standing committee meeting at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban on the campus on Wednesday. Vice-Chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman and Convener of the committee Abdul Basir confirmed the matter to The Business Post.

Basir said the barriers for married female students regarding staying in halls have been removed. “Considering the health risk, we recommended that pregnant students stay with their families. Now the decisions will be presented to a syndicate meeting for approval.”

Akhtaruzzaman told The Business Post it was the rule that married female students would not be allowed to stay in halls.

“But the rule was not implemented by the authorities, and no one was discriminated and harassed due to it.”

“It is not a crime to live in a hall after marriage. We want participatory development for both genders,” he added.

The students and political leaders welcomed the decisions. They also urged the authorities to abolish other gender-based discriminations faced by female students in halls.

The university’s Chhatra League Secretary Saddam Hossain said they welcomed the decisions but “will not express satisfaction”.

He said female students cannot enjoy equal freedom like their male counterparts. “They have to face discriminations in returning to halls after going out. We want the university to establish an example in the country by abolishing all kinds of discriminations and establishing equal rights for women.”

The issue caused a stir recently after a female student lost her right to stay in her hall when she got married. It was widely criticised on social media by various quarters while female students of the university started a movement against the practice.