A legal notice has been served on Dhaka University authorities asking them to withdraw the restriction on pregnant and married female students over staying at residential halls.

The notice demanded that necessary steps be taken to repeal the discriminatory provision against female students within three working days of receiving the notice, otherwise the intervention of the High Court would be sought in the matter.

Mohammad Shishir Monir, a lawyer of the Supreme Court and a former student of the law department of Dhaka University, sent the legal notice to DU vice-chancellor, registrar, proctor and provosts of three women’s dormitories, including Shamsun Nahar Hall on Wednesday.

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In the notice, the Supreme Court Lawyer said the right to stay in a university dorm does not depend on whether the student is pregnant and married or not.

Dhaka University still has such discriminatory provisions against female students. This decision is a clear violation of Articles 27 and 28 of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the Provost Standing Committee of Dhaka University was held this evening to discuss the rules of the female students’ hall, said  VC Md Akhtaruzzaman.

In the recent media reports, the lawyer came to know that the residential seats of some students of Dhaka University have been cancelled due to their marriage.

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According to the Rules of Distribution of Seats and Other Disciplinary Rules for Residential Students of Shamsun Nahar Hall, if any student gets married, she should inform the authorities immediately, otherwise her seat will be cancelled due to violation of rules. Only in special cases, the married student will be given the opportunity to stay in the hall for the current session.

The rules of Shamsun Nahar Hall also stated that pregnant students cannot stay in the hall.

The notice further said that due to that provision, practically married students will be deprived of the opportunity of higher education by availing the residential facilities of the hall. There is a lot of dissatisfaction and excitement among the students about this issue.