A group of female students at Dhaka University under the banner of Oborodhbashini has rejected a recommendation by the Provost Standing Committee to relax the “curfew” imposed on women’s dormitories, demanding its complete repeal instead.
At a press conference in front of Rokeya Hall on Thursday afternoon, the students said ensuring the safety of female students is the university administration’s responsibility and that restricting their movement in the name of security cannot be a solution.
Earlier on Monday, following a meeting of the Provost Standing Committee on Sunday, its Member Secretary and University Proctor Israt Ratan told Dhaka Tribune that the committee had recommended extending the deadline for female students to enter their halls by one hour. The recommendation is awaiting approval from the Syndicate.
The students have been protesting under the Oborodhbashini banner since July 30, demanding the withdrawal of the “evening curfew” in women’s halls and unrestricted movement around the clock.
As part of their campaign, they have distributed leaflets and posters in women’s dormitories, organised marches and sit-ins in academic areas, and collected mass signatures from female students.
Their three-point demands include the immediate abolition of the existing “discriminatory evening curfew” currently in effect from 10pm to 6am while ensuring adequate security and unrestricted movement for female students around the clock.
They also demand that female students be allowed to enter any women’s hall by showing valid identification and stay overnight with proper permission, as well as ensuring access to all female relatives of women students.
At the press conference, Israt Jahan Emu, a student of Shamsun Nahar Hall, said more than 1,200 female students signed a memorandum submitted to the vice-chancellor on August 9.
She said a solidarity rally on August 10 also issued an ultimatum to the administration to repeal the evening curfew. However, instead of addressing their demands, the administration proposed only a one-hour relaxation of the curfew, she alleged.
The students said the proposal undermines the civil and fundamental rights of female students and stressed that there is no scope for compromise on the issue.