The University of Dhaka (DU) on Tuesday extended the regular entry time for female students at its residential halls by one hour, following protests by several groups of female students.

Under the new decision, the main gates of the university’s female halls will now close at 11pm instead of 10pm. However, in special circumstances, female students will be allowed to enter through the “late gate” until dawn.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the university’s highest policymaking body, the Syndicate, DU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane said.

The Pro-VC said a committee has been formed comprising the Pro-VC (Administration), the Proctor and the provosts of the university’s five female halls. The committee will work to facilitate students’ movement in and out of the halls for special needs.

He said a digital punch card would be introduced for students, allowing them to leave the halls when necessary without having to obtain prior permission from the hall authorities.

“Students will only have to record the reason for going out in a prescribed book kept at the hall gate. They will have an ID number, and all relevant information will be stored in the archive of the university’s ICT Department,” he said.

He also said the university would consider allowing the mothers and sisters of residential students to stay in the halls in cases of emergency.

Earlier, several groups of female students protested against what they described as an “evening curfew”, demanding the complete abolition of nighttime restrictions on female students residing in residential halls and round-the-clock security on campus.