There is no denying the fact that higher education for women is one of many ways for their own progress and for that of society, and this year International Women's Day's theme was aptly “Press for Progress.”
And in continuation of Bangladesh’s progress, Dhaka University has seen a rise in women's participation and leadership over the years.
The esteemed educational institution now boasts 31% female teachers.
When Dhaka University started its journey in 1921, there were no female teachers or students.
Gradually, over time the situation changed and in 2009, the number of female teachers saw a significant rise.
For the first time in its 96-year history, Dhaka University now has a female pro vice-chancellor, Prof Dr Nasreen Ahmad. She has been working in that capacity since June 6, 2012.
According to DU administration, the total number of teachers at the university is 2012, which includes 630 women.
In the last eight years, the ratio of male-to-female teachers' appointments has changed significantly as a total of 621 teachers were appointed during the 2009-2017 period. Of the appointed, 195 were women. Now, the ratio between female teachers and their male counterparts is 1:3.18.
Former vice-chancellor of the university Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique said teachers are appointed to the university based on merit.
Besides, those who are more skilled and competent in giving presentations are given priority, he said adding that the university authorities never appoint any teacher on special consideration.
The former VC said DU’s female teachers are qualified and meritorious. "These days women are outshining their male counterparts in all the sectors like politics, economics, education and administration," he added.
At present, the heads of 16 departments at DU are women. The departments are Economics, English, History, Psychology, Bangla, Music, Dance, Chemistry, Microbiology, Fisheries, Education and Counseling Psychology, Geography and Environment, Meteorology, Robotics & Mechatronics Engineering, Television, Film and Photography, and Art History.
Besides, five institutes – Education and Research (IER), Institute of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Social Welfare and Research Institute, Modern Language Institute (ILM) and the Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies – have female directors.
More importantly, female teachers are now more active in teacher politics than in the past. Prof Najma Shaheen led the pro-Awami League Blue Panel of the university teachers for a long time.
Under her leadership, the panel won 33 seats out of 35 in the last senate election held on May 22 last year.
The Blue Panel also swept up all of the 15 seats in the last election of the Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTA) held on December 8 last under her leadership.
Riffat Ferdous, the head of DU Television, Film and Photography department, said the stereotype concept that women are weak and that they cannot take challenges has become obsolete. "They (women) have proved their worth in all sectors."
Women are going ahead on all fronts, she said hoping that successful women at the university will encourage other women across the country to come up.
Prof Sadeka Halim, the first elected female dean of Social Sciences Faculty, said women are competing with their male counterparts in all sectors of society, and now DU has a large number of female students as well as teachers.
Though the university began its journey without any female teacher or student, now it has about 40% female students while 31% of teachers are women.
Bringing up the fact that the university has no quota system for girls, Sadeka Halim said they are granted admission based on their merit.
According to a report, the university had over 32,000 students in 2015, including 11,000 girls.
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
