Dhaka University’s proctorial team has barred a few female students from staying in non-residential areas on the campus after 10pm, citing security concerns.
For years, the gates of the female dorms would close at 10pm though the “late gate” stayed open until approximately midnight. But last night several students alleged they were barred from staying outside residential areas.
The students said the team justified the move by saying, “The girls’ dorm closes at 10. What will you be doing outside after that?” Several students recently alleged that the proctorial team barred them from staying outside residential areas after 10pm.
Israt Jahan, a student of disaster management and Vulnerability Studies Department, said, “Two members of the proctorial team prevented us from entering the university’s ‘Mall Chattar’ after 10pm.”
According to her, two members of the proctorial team prevented her from entering the chattar at 10:38pm, citing, “as per higher orders” no female students is allowed in non-residential areas after 10.
When she inquired further about the rule, she said the proctor explained that it was implemented “for security reasons” and “in case of any incident, they would be held accountable.”
Shima Akter, only female candidate contesting the DUCSU elections as social welfare secretary, shares a similar experience. She says, “Despite identifying ourselves as campus residents, they told me that since the girls’ gate closes at 10 pm, I’m not allowed to stay here.”
Speaking to the Times of Bangladesh, she explained that a three-member proctorial team comes around daily after 9pm to ask outsiders to leave the mall chattar area. However, that day they “prohibited” her from staying outside.
Shima alleges that such incidents are happening to many female students. She claimed new rules are being used as an “excuse to keep female students stuck in their rooms” and stop them from moving freely around the campus.
DU Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed expressed remorse over the mall chattar incident, saying there was a ‘misunderstanding’ over the student entry, says a press release.
The statement claimed that no announcement had been issued by the Proctor’s Office restricting female students from entering different areas of the campus after 10pm.”
