A student group named “Students for Sovereignty” has placed a four-point demand to the Dhaka University administration, Education Ministry, and the government, seeking immediate steps to protect the rights of Muslim women to wear the hijab and observe veiling. The demands come in response to recent incidents of alleged discrimination against women wearing the hijab in educational institutions.

At a press conference held at Dhaka University on Tuesday, the group’s convenor, Ziaul Haque, expressed concerns over what they described as an imported agenda of “Indian Hindutva ideology” against hijab-wearing Muslim women. He cited an incident at Rangamati Government College, where a student named Umme Anjuman was allegedly expelled for wearing a hijab, comparing it to similar incidents in Karnataka, India in 2022.

Haque noted that in 2022, a Muslim student in Karnataka named Muskan faced harassment from Hindu extremist groups for wearing a hijab to college. Following this, Karnataka authorities banned the hijab, which Haque claims mirrors recent discriminatory actions in Bangladesh’s educational institutions.

The group highlighted similar incidents at Dhaka University, including allegations of harassment against hijab-wearing students. According to Haque, these incidents include preventing students from taking exams. Protests against such discrimination reportedly led to statements from the teachers’ association, which argued that the university is “not a religious institution,” Haque said.

The Students for Sovereignty group presented the following demands:

For Dhaka University Administration

Issue an official order stating that female students will not be required to show their faces or provide photographs during admission tests, enrollment, classes, exams, or any university-related activities.

Introduce alternative identification methods such as biometric verification; if face identification is necessary, it should be conducted only by female staff or faculty members. Male staff must not verify veiled students.

Implementation of Coding System for Exams

Replace student names with codes on exam papers to prevent bias or discrimination during evaluation.

For the Education Ministry

Issue a nationwide order ensuring hijab-wearing female students in all educational institutions are treated equally without any form of harassment.

For the Government

Eliminate mandatory photograph requirements for veiled women in services like national ID cards, land registration, bank accounts, old-age allowances, and widow allowances. Identification methods should include biometric verification, with female staff conducting any necessary face identification.

The group urged authorities to begin implementing these demands within one week, warning that failure to act would intensify protests.

Haque reiterated that hijab and veil are constitutional rights, referencing a 2022 High Court ruling that affirmed a woman’s right to wear hijab or burqa. He emphasized that recent anti-hijab incidents reflect external ideological influence and threaten the cultural and religious sovereignty of the country.