Public universities continue to restrict women’s autonomy
Public universities are still rationing women – In the 2016-17 academic year, I was a non-resident student at Dhaka University (DU). Despite not living in the dormitory, I was still tied to the residential hall’s schedule. I remember how female classmates were often confined to rigid routines, leaving classes early or skipping events to avoid violating curfew rules. These observations resurfaced when I read recent accounts of dormitory policies at public universities, revealing a pattern of gendered control.
The Curfew Dilemma
A recent incident at Rukayyah Hall underscored this issue. A DU student’s mother traveled over 300 kilometers from Dinajpur to surprise her daughter with a meal. She arrived at 10:58 pm but was turned away at the gate. The daughter was also barred from meeting her mother outside. Meanwhile, male students in adjacent halls could move freely. This disparity highlights how universities enforce rules selectively, often prioritizing gender norms over flexibility.
Interviews with more than 20 female students across DU, Khulna University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), and Mawlana Bhasani Science and Technology University show that curfew policies vary by campus. At DU, women are expected back by 10:00 pm, with some leniency until 11:00 pm. Other institutions impose even earlier deadlines, such as 8:00 pm or 9:00 pm. These rules are consistently applied, though not always uniformly.
Financial and Social Consequences
The effects of these restrictions go beyond daily inconvenience. For many, tutoring and part-time work are vital for financial stability. Classes often end in the afternoon, but evening sessions and jobs require time after school hours. Students recounted how traffic delays and strict curfews forced them to abandon opportunities. One DU student shared that she had to decline a job at a fashion company because it ended at 9:30 pm.
Universities that limit women’s access to after-hours activities inadvertently restrict their ability to earn income. This creates a system where female students are judged not by their achievements but by their adherence to time constraints. The impact is tangible: fewer hours for study, work, or social engagement.
Behavioral Policing on Campus
University life extends beyond classrooms, encompassing clubs, rehearsals, debates, and events. Female students noted that curfews and access restrictions cut them off from these spaces. At DU, some women have even objected to entering other female halls, while male peers move between dorms with ease. This reflects an unspoken expectation that women should remain within specific boundaries.
One DU student recalled an instance where a senior was reprimanded for staying out past 8:00 pm. The woman was allowed back only after signing a bond. A former SUST student mentioned that hall authorities told students, “good girls don’t stay out late.” Such remarks reinforce a culture of surveillance, where women are policed not just for their actions but for their behavior.
While safety concerns are valid, the current policies often use these as a justification for limiting women’s mobility. If campuses and cities are unsafe, the response should be improved security measures, not stricter restrictions on movement. The recent incident in September 2025, where two female students were stopped from entering Mall Chattar at 10:38 pm despite showing IDs, exemplifies this. Staff cited “orders from above,” though the proctor later admitted no such directive existed. This exposes how institutional policies can become tools for containment rather than protection.
From Discipline to Discrimination
Universities that enforce curfews with rigid timing risk transforming their purpose. What began as a measure to ensure order has evolved into a system of gender-based regulation. A curfew justified as care can still function as a mechanism of control. The reported DU cases make it clear that the issue is not just about official timings but about systemic attitudes toward women’s independence.
“Good girls don’t stay out late.”
