Unwritten Ban Alleged on Female Students’ Entry to DU Central Field After Dusk

Dhaka, Jan 11, 2026 — Allegations of gender-based discrimination have emerged at Dhaka University (DU) after female students claimed they were verbally barred from entering the university’s Central Field after dusk, despite the absence of any written regulation.
According to students, female access to the Central Field has been restricted after 5:00pm through verbal instructions, while no such limitation applies to male students. The issue came to light last week when a female student was reportedly stopped at the Central Field gate and told that women were not allowed to enter after evening hours.
On January 8, a student named Fareha Tul Farah shared her experience on social media, stating that university staff prevented her from entering the field in the evening. She wrote that the staff claimed the decision had been taken jointly by the DU administration and the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU).
“They told me at the gate that after 5pm, female students cannot enter the Central Field. Everyone else can—just not women,” she wrote.
However, both the university administration and DUCSU have denied the existence of any such policy.
SM Zakaria, acting director of the Physical Education Centre, said no decision had been taken to restrict female students’ entry into the Central Field after dusk. “There is no such directive from the administration,” he said, adding that steps such as ensuring the presence of female teachers in the evening were being considered to facilitate women’s participation in sports.
DUCSU denial, protest planned
DUCSU Central Executive Member Hema Chakma also rejected claims of the student union’s involvement. In a social media post, she stated: “Stopping women from entering the Central Field after 5pm is not a DUCSU decision—no, and no again. DUCSU’s role is to ensure and encourage students’ access to the field.”
Calling the incident an example of unaccountable and gender-based control, Hema Chakma announced a symbolic protest against the alleged “curfew.” She said an evening programme involving sports or cultural activities would be held at the Central Field, possibly continuing until 10:00pm or 11:00pm.
She added that a formal written explanation would be sought from the university administration regarding what female students are permitted or prohibited from doing on campus after dusk.
Culture of verbal directives
Students argue that the Central Field incident is not isolated but reflects a broader campus culture where unwritten, verbal directives are used to impose restrictions on female students. They allege that guards and staff often cite unverifiable “orders from above,” subjecting women to arbitrary policing.
Although authorities deny imposing formal bans, students maintain that the situation on the ground contradicts official claims.
The controversy has also renewed debate over symbolic initiatives related to women’s mobility on campus, with critics arguing that one-off gestures fail to address the everyday restrictions faced by female students.