Many schools, colleges yet to decide on female students’ dress code of veil, scarf

By AKM Moinuddin

Dhaka, Aug 28 (UNB) – Country’s reputed educational institutions which have unique dress code for their female students are yet to decide on changing the students’ uniforms in the backdrop of Education Ministry’s recent circular.
The educational institutions, which made veil and religious attires especially scarves mandatory for their female students, want to consider it as their institutions’ uniform, not as religious attires. Many institutional heads claim students feel free to choose whether or not they would wear veil or scarves.
Some of the educational institutions are ready to bring about changes in their dress code if they get any specific directions from the government.
Talking to UNB, Principal of Motijheel Ideal School and College Shahan Ara Begum said: “It’s simply our school dress. It has become a custom since the establishment of the school. The circular you’re talking about is for burqa [veil].”
Syllabus of this famous school, which has made a mark in quality education in Bangladesh, suggests female students to use white-scarf from class I-IV while white cap for male students.
Replying to a question, Principal Shahan Ara said: “We’re yet to get a letter from the authorities on this issue. If we get directive from the government, we’ll sit after the vacation for taking decision on changing the dress code.” She said they would abide by any government directive.
On the other hand, International Islamic University, Chittagong (IIUC) has made veil mandatory as the institutional uniform for their female students where students feel free to wear the veil.
“We’ve instructed our students to wear decent dress. We didn’t force any student to wear veil though we’ve instructed students to wear veil simply for maintaining decency. Even, we didn’t stop anybody (coming to university) without wearing veil,” IIUC Vice Chancellor Prof Dr M Mahbubullah said.
He, however, said they do not have any plan to change the dress code as “our students wear veils willingly.”
A former student of the IIUC said: “Veil was mandatory for us as per the institution’s prospectus but none was forced to wear veil. So, I don’t see any problem continuation of such dress code.”
It was widely alleged that students had to face punishment if they did not wear veil, scarf and other religious attires as per the directives of the educational institutions having their own dress code. Sometimes, even students were not allowed to attend classes.
On August 25, the Education Ministry issued a circular asking the government and private educational institutions not to force female students to wear burqa (veil) or religious attires.
The circular signed by Education Secretary Sayed Ataur Rahman also said that female students cannot be refrained from participating in sports and cultural activities at their institutions.
It said female students cannot be repressed, harassed or given any punishment for not wearing veil.
The circular urged the heads of the educational institutions and the management committees to take necessary measures to follow these instructions.
The circular said if any complaint is received about violation of the instructions, the departments, directorates or education boards under the Education Ministry will make inquiry and take legal action.
The instructions were given for the protection of human rights as per article 28 of the Constitution.
Earlier, the High Court on August 22 issued a suo moto order directing the government to ensure that no woman is forced to wear veil (burqa) or religious attires at the educational institutions and offices across the country.
END/UNB/AKM/