Students split over curtained ‘Female Zone’ at TSC

A curtained-off seating area for women students at Dhaka University’s (DU) TSC cafeteria has reignited a national debate over religion, gender and public space on campus. Introduced by DUCSU leaders, including general secretary (GS) and Islami Chhatra Shibir publicity secretary S M Farhad, the “female zone” has drawn criticism from students, writers and politicians who argue that it challenges the university’s secular traditions.

DUCSU common room and cafeteria secretary Ummey Salma, who is backed by Shibir, told the media, “Many female students had asked for it, pointing out that DUCSU’s own cafeteria already has a separate room where women can eat while observing purdah (seclusion of women from unrelated men). It’s just one curtained table; no one should have a problem with that. A section of students has turned a small gesture into a political row.”

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) DU unit GS Nahiduzzaman Shipon called the move “religious politics dressed up as women’s welfare”, arguing that DUCSU should instead focus on improving the campus’s poor female washroom facilities and sanitation before pursuing symbolic measures.