A legal notice has been sent to the authorities of the Dhaka University seeking cancelation of the rule which prohibits pregnant and married female student from residing in dormitories.
Lawyer Shishir Monir sent the legal notice to the DU vice-chancellor (VC), register, proctor, provosts of Shamsunnahar Hall, Kuwait Maitri Hall and Sufia Kamal Hall on Wednesday (December 22).
“I have come to know, through media reports, seats of several married students were cancelled. Besides, according to the article of Shamsunnahar Hall seat distribution provision, the administration must be notified if any student is married. Otherwise, her seat will be canceled for defying law. Married student will be allowed to stay in hall in special cases only. Pregnant students are not allowed to reside the hall,” the notice said.
“Through this rule, the authorities are depriving the married students of higher education rights. This create outrage among the running students as well as other people across the country. Such disparity in the top educational institution grabbed media attraction,” it furthered.
According to article 27 of Bangladesh’s constitution all citizens of the country are equal and in line with article 28 (1) and (2) the state won’t discriminate among citizens based on religion, cast, creed, gender and birth place. Men and women will get equal rights at all spheres of the state and public life. But, such rule of the hall administration is a barrier for women to take higher education and also contradictory to the constitution,” the notice added.
