Dhaka University Central Students’ Union, or DUCSU, has called for relaxing existing curfew rules in women’s residential halls to ensure a safer, more humane and student-friendly living environment. During a follow-up meeting with Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A B M Obaidul Islam on Monday, the union restated longstanding concerns and demands from women hall students, according to a report published on July 27.

DUCSU Vice-President Sadik Kayem said hall entry and exit policies should be updated to match women students’ academic, research, cultural and extracurricular activities. The union sought reasonable extensions to hall gate-closing and late-entry hours. It also proposed allowing non-residential students and students from other women’s halls to enter when needed upon showing valid university identification.

The union urged quicker, simpler services for illness and emergencies, saying existing administrative procedures increase students’ hardship. It emphasized installing digital security gates using fingerprints, facial recognition or university ID-card punches. The vice-chancellor said the issues would receive serious consideration and announced plans to form a committee to review the related matters, including the proposed digital gates.