The provosts of the halls of Dhaka University (DU) have recommended cancelling the provision that banned married and pregnant female students from staying in dormitories.
DU Pro-VC (administration) Prof Md Samad has confirmed that the Provost Standing Committee made the recommendation after a meeting on Wednesday.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune in the evening, he said the female students should stay with their families during the time of pregnancy for their own safety, but the university authority itself has no problem if they decide to stay at the dorms.
The university syndicate will make a final decision in a meeting soon.
Earlier on Wednesday, Supreme Court lawyer and former student of DU Law Department Shishir Monir filed a legal notice against the Dhaka University authorities demanding the cancellation of its recent directive banning married female students from staying at dormitories.
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The notice describes the provision as discriminatory to women and contrary to the country’s Constitution.
The vice chancellor, registrar, proctor and provosts of Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree Hall, Shamsun Nahar Hall and Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall have been asked to take due steps within three days.
As per Section 16 of the rules on Shamsun Nahar Hall's seat allocation and other disciplinary directives, if a student gets married, she must inform the authorities without delay and her seat will be cancelled otherwise.
Married students will be allowed to stay in dorms in special cases, but pregnant students will not be permitted in any circumstances.
The notice says the lawyer will take further legal action if the DU authorities failed to address the issue.
The move came amid protests by the female students at the university. Earlier, student representatives of five female halls submitted a five-point memorandum to the VC demanding cancellation of the provision.
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The other demands include treating the female students as adult citizens, changing the term “local guardian” to “emergency contact” in related documents, and ending all harassment by teachers and staff of the dorms.
The agitating students also demanded that the provision to allow non-residential students to enter the halls be reinstated as long as their academic activities continue, and that they be allowed to stay in case of emergency.
Meanwhile, the Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University (MBSTU) authorities have withdrawn a notice that called for female married students to vacate their halls of residence.
In the face of protests, MBSTU Alema Khatun Bhashani Hall Provost Dr Roksana Haque Rimi withdrew the notice on Monday.
On December 11, the provost issued the notice asking the married students to leave the dorm by January 30.
Our Tangail Correspondent Abdullah Al Noman contributed to this report