Fighting restrictions, fighting for residence: Will Ducsu end the silent struggles of female students?
Due to a strict rule imposed by the university, no female student can get in or out of the hall after 10pm without having prior permission from the house tutors residing at the hall.
On the night of July 14th, as Dhaka University celebrated Women's Day, Sharmin's world fell apart in a way she could never have anticipated. A fourth-year student at Shamsunnahar Hall, she had been running on fumes after a stressful day.
One of her close relatives, who was critically ill, had been rushed to the ICU, and after a long, exhausting day at Bangladesh Medical University, Sharmin finally settled them into a cabin.
When she headed back to her hall, for a moment, she could breathe. But that relief was fleeting; her relative's life was still uncertain.
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Just after midnight, the phone rang. The patient's condition had worsened, and survival seemed impossible. Without thinking, Sharmin knew she had to return immediately.
With the gates locked at 10pm, even a minute's delay means being locked out for the entire night
However, due to a strict rule imposed by the university, no female student can get in or out of the hall after 10pm without having prior permission from the house tutors residing at the hall. Female students returning late must deposit their IDs, note the reason for the delay, and enter through the back gate.
In her desperate attempt to be with her dying relative, Sharmin called her house tutor, her heart hoping for just a hint of understanding. But the phone remained unanswered.
Panic gripped her as she rushed downstairs, frantic, her every step weighed down by a bureaucracy that felt cold and indifferent to her grief.
At the hall gate, Sharmin clung to a tiny hope that the rules would bend. But the guards, most of whom were asleep, wouldn't let her pass without permission.
By 3am, her relative passed away. Yet, Sharmin was still trapped inside, unable to say goodbye. For the next two hours, she sat in the cold, staring at the closed gate, helpless.
"I spent the entire night sitting in the field, helpless, until the guards finally opened the gate at 5:55am, after refusing my pleas over and over," she said, her voice breaking.
That night, Sharmin understood the bitter truth: a system meant to protect could, in the most critical moments, strip away our humanity.
The everyday struggles of DU's female students
Sharmin's experience is just one of many. Every day, female students at Dhaka University face the harsh realities of living in a system that seems indifferent to their struggles. Unreasonably strict rules, poor accommodation, inadequate sanitation, safety threats, and growing harassment and cyberbullying weigh heavily on their shoulders.
"With the gates locked at 10pm, even a minute's delay means being locked out for the entire night," Sharmin said, her exhaustion clear in her voice.
Visitors are forbidden entry; friends, classmates, even peers from other halls. The space that should feel like home becomes a cage.
These problems become the heart of policy proposals in many candidates' manifestos for the Dhaka University Central Student Union (Ducsu) election.
Adite Islam, a Philosophy student and Assistant General Secretary (AGS) candidate from the "Oporajeyo 71" panel, criticised these oppressive policies. "Female students, even those allocated to one hall, cannot enter another without special permission. Meanwhile, male students move freely across campus," Adite said, her frustration evident.
"Why should a female student need permission to enter her own hall? This reflects a backward mentality that stifles women's agency," she continued. "Despite their contributions, women's voices are silenced by the very system meant to support them."
Overcrowded and overburdened: The accommodation crisis
Despite female students comprising nearly half of DU's population, the accommodation situation is dire. There are only five residential halls for women, three of which are off-campus. Meanwhile, male students have 13 residential halls.
This imbalance has led to an accommodation crisis. Many female students are forced to rent flats, taking on financial burdens that male students don't face. Those fortunate enough to secure a hall often find themselves in overcrowded rooms, with 15-20 students sharing a space in what are called "guest seats."
Rukaiya, a first-year student from the Islamic History and Culture department, shared her struggle: "I come from a not-so-privileged background. Renting outside campus is not easy, especially with food and other costs."
The dining areas offer little relief, with poor-quality food pushing many students to cook their own meals. This time-consuming and exhausting task becomes their only option for survival.
Infrastructure issues further compound their hardship. Waterlogging, particularly at Bangamata Fazilatunnisa Mujib Hall and Bangladesh Kuwait Moitree Hall, has become a daily nuisance.
Fahmida Tasnim Aboni, a Political Science student at Kuwait Maitree Hall, explained: "Addressing the waterlogging problem would require an overhaul of Newmarket and Nilkhet. The administration promises change, but nothing ever changes."
Fahmida, originally from Kurigram, shares her frustration: "During the rainy season, our ground-floor room floods, and we have to move everything to higher places."
Umama Fatema, running for Vice President in Ducsu from the "Shontontro Shikkharthi Oikko" panel, aims to reform accommodation policies. "We'll ensure female halls are built within campus grounds. We'll renovate old halls with modern facilities to provide a safe and comfortable space."
Harassment and cyberbullying: Constant threats
As many women's halls are located in high-risk areas off-campus, safety is a constant concern. A 2023 study found that 89% of female students who experienced harassment never reported it, fearing academic consequences, stigma, and distrust in the system.
The case of Arnob Sardar, a DU Library staffer accused of harassing a female student in March, drew widespread attention. Though arrested, he was released the next day, greeted by a crowd, a dark reminder that patriarchy is not only tolerated but celebrated.
Ayesha, a fourth-year International Relations student and resident of Bangamata Hall, expressed her fears: "I don't feel safe walking to my hall. The campus is full of vagabonds and drug abusers. I've faced repeated harassment."
Umama Fatema shared her plan to tackle this: "If the university forms an agreement with the city corporation, the risk could be minimised. Those causing disturbances need rehabilitation, whether through drug treatment or mental health programs."
Cyberbullying is another unrelenting threat. Facebook groups like "Dhaka University Nirapotta Mancha" and "DU Insider" have been accused of sharing photos, videos, and screenshots of students without consent, often with malicious intent.
Adite Islam condemned these actions: "These groups use the university's name to spread harmful propaganda, especially against female candidates. It's deeply damaging."
The long-sought representation of female students
This year's Ducsu election marks a turning point for female students. With 39,775 students eligible to vote, including 18,902 female students, the gender gap is narrowing. More women are stepping into the political arena, hoping their voices will finally be heard.
Ashrefa Khatun, AGS candidate from the "Boishommobirodhi Shikkharthi Sangsad," said, "Without a mandate, female students' demands will continue to fall on deaf ears. Only Ducsu can give us the legitimate platform to make the administration listen."
As the Ducsu elections approach, female students are torn between skepticism and hope. Many doubt the ability of candidates to address deeply rooted issues, but there is cautious optimism fueled by the collective uprising of students in July.
"Ducsu must be more than banners, posters, and empty promises," said Ayesha. "It must reflect the real lives of students: our safety, our dignity, and our equality."
Now, the question remains: Will this election move beyond promises and finally deliver the rights that female students at DU have been demanding for so long?
