Voluntary gender changers will not get admission under `Transgender` quota in undergraduate programs of University of Dhaka (DU).
DU Vice Chancellor ASM Maksud Kamal said this.
In an interview given to Kaler Kantho, ASM Maksud Kamal said, "The quota will remain unchanged as it is. Those who by birth and nature are of gender diversity other than male and female, will get the opportunity of this quota."
"To open the doors of higher education for the people of this community, a quota has been arranged for them for admission in DU. Those who voluntarily undergo gender transition will not be given a chance in this quota", he added.
The University Grants Commission, through its 46th Annual Report, recommended to the government for special arrangements of higher education of transgenders. DU last academic year (2022-23) introduced a " Transgender" quota for ensuring access to higher education in undergraduate programs.
Students have been opposing this quota since the publication of the admission circular for the academic year 2023-24 on 18 December. They demanded cancellation of this quota or removal of the word `transgender` from the quota.
The demands of the students are- immediate cancellation of transgender quota in admission test; Expeditiously canceling this admission notification and publishing revised notification; To take adequate steps for creating a seamless learning environment for the transgender community in the university etc.
The students say that those who voluntarily undergo surgery to change their gender or who identify themselves as the opposite sex despite having full female or male organs and features, will also benefit from this quota as transgender, which will create chaos. Therefore, the word `transgender` should be removed from this quota.
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