DU female students protest restrictions, demand discrimination-free campus

A group of female leaders from the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) and hall unions on Sunday (18 January) organised a programme titled "Proshashon Pora O Barbecue Sondhya" (administration roast and barbecue evening) to press for a safe and discrimination-free campus for women.

Alongside the programme, they also submitted a memorandum containing five demands to the university proctor.

The announcement of the programme was made at a press conference held in the evening at the university's central playground, where Ducsu executive member Hema Chakma spoke on behalf of the organisers. The programme was later held at the same venue.

Ducsu Research and Publication Secretary Sanjida Ahmed Tonni and Shamsunnahar Hall Vice-President Kaniz Qurratul Ain were also present at the press conference.

Speaking to reporters, Hema Chakma alleged that for more than a year, female students have been barred from entering the central playground after evening hours in the name of preventing "so-called obscenity". She further claimed that women students are being forcibly removed from areas such as the Mall Chattar and other parts of the campus if seen after 10pm.

"These restrictions do not exist in any written policy, public notice or legal framework. The administration is enforcing them unlawfully. Questioning, interrogation and harassment in the name of security have now become a regular reality," she said.

She criticised what she described as the administration's "double standards", noting that male students are allowed to move freely, stay and socialise in the same spaces from which female students are excluded.

"We want to state clearly that curtailing women's freedom of movement in the name of protection is structural discrimination against women. Until this discrimination is removed and a women-friendly campus is ensured, we will continue to hold the administration accountable," she added.

In their memorandum to the proctor, the organisers placed five demands: an immediate end to all forms of harassment and discriminatory restrictions imposed in the name of women's safety; urgent renovation of the non-functional women's toilet at TSC and ensuring adequate, safe and usable toilets for female students across the campus; permission for all legitimate female students of the university – including non-residential and students from other halls – to enter any women's hall upon submission of identity cards; reconstitution and effective activation of the university's sexual harassment prevention cell; and allowing mothers and sisters of resident female students to enter halls upon submission of applications and identity cards.

The protest followed allegations last week that several female students were prevented from entering the central playground in the evening. While male students are reportedly allowed access to the field after 5pm, restrictions on women students prompted the announcement of the protest programme as a demonstration against gender discrimination.