DU removes restrictions on Pakistani students

Dhaka University (DU) has officially lifted its ban on admitting Pakistani students, signaling a notable policy change aimed at fostering academic collaboration between Bangladesh and Pakistan. The decision was finalized during a syndicate meeting on November 13, chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmad Khan, according to Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Sayma Haque Bidisha.

The updated policy allows Pakistani students to enroll at DU, while Bangladeshi students will now have the opportunity to pursue higher education in Pakistan. University officials anticipate that this move will enhance cooperation in education, culture, and other shared areas of interest.

Explaining the rationale, Professor Bidisha noted that while past ties with Pakistan had been severed, the university has a responsibility to facilitate academic opportunities. “At one point, ties with Pakistan were cut, but Dhaka University is an academic institution. Many of our students require access to scholarships or academic events in Pakistan. We resolved this issue through dialogue to restore normal relations,” she stated.

Professor Bidisha emphasized that the decision was solely academic and avoided sensitive political issues, such as Pakistan’s denial of the 1971 genocide. “This is about fostering academic cooperation, not engaging in political dialogue,” she added.

The ban, in effect since December 2015, was initially imposed by then-Vice-Chancellor Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique following Pakistan's refusal to acknowledge the atrocities committed during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War. At the time, Professor Siddique declared, “As long as they do not acknowledge the genocide and atrocities, this institution will not maintain any relationship with them. Our students will not go to Pakistan for higher education, nor will we admit any of their students.”

The recent policy shift follows a significant diplomatic gesture in September 2024, when Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Syed Ahmed Maroof, visited DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmad Chowdhury. This marked the first visit of its kind in nearly a decade and is viewed as a step toward renewing academic ties.