Students of Jahangirnagar University have been raising their voice against some freshly imposed restrictions by the university authorities – which they claim are discriminatory against the female residential students.
Students brought out processions and met with the authorities to protest the restrictions that include the closing of hall gate after 10pm and making 75% attendance compulsory only in the dormitories for female students.
On December 7, authorities at the university’s Jahanara Imam Hall – where only female students reside – imposed a decree signed by hall Provost Prof Dr Shyamal Kumar Roy, reading: “The gate of the dorm will be closed at 10pm following the university rules, while no student would enter or exit when the gate is closed.
“If any student needs to stay outside after 10pm for departmental programme, they have to inform hall authorities before one day of the programme,” the notice added.
The students were also asked to keep their ID cards with them at all times and maintain at least 75% attendance at the hall in order to get their hall clearance for exam admit cards.
Demonstrating students told the Dhaka Tribune that the move was discriminatory against the female students as the authorities did not consider the needs of those who had jobs or tuitions in Dhaka, at least more than an hour away from the campus.
Students were also upset as the authorities had reportedly cancelled the seats of some female students in separate female dorms as they had failed to fulfil authorities’ requirements, a move which they claimed never took place in male dorms.
The demonstrations against the university’s decisions began on Wednesday evening when 500 students led by boarders of the Jahanara Imam Hall along with activists of JU Pragatisheel Jote – a platform of progressive students – brought out a procession on the campus.
A team representing the demonstrators also met with JU authorities yesterday to present their demands, which included stopping the restrictions and harassment in female dorms, returning seats to the victimised evicted students and allowing students’ female guests inside the dorms.
Sources said female residential students of the Jahanara Imam Hall, the Pritilata Hall and the Sheikh Hasina Hall have arranged more separate programmes to press home their demands.
Asked about the issue, Jahanara Imam Hall Provost Prof Shyamal Kumar said the decision was made at the hall committee’s meeting, while the hall gate would be closed as per university rules.
Afifa Farzana, a residential student of Jahanara Imam Hall said: “Discriminatory rules like closing dormitory gate at 10pm, carrying ID cards and regular presence are always being imposed against the female students, not the boys. Now we are fighting against those discriminations.”
JU anthropology department teacher Snigdha Rezwana told the Dhaka Tribune: “The authorities are not only discriminating on gender issues, rather they are discriminating against the university’s students.”
When contacted, JU Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Abul Hossain said the authorities would consider the students’ demands and would not impose restrictions on female dormitories.
