Dhaka, Nov 18 (V7N) - Dhaka University (DU) has officially ended its prohibition on admitting students from Pakistan, signaling a move to enhance academic collaboration between the two nations.

The decision was finalized during a syndicate meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmad Khan on November 13, according to Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Admin) Prof Sayma Haque Bidisha.

Under this revised policy, Pakistani students will be permitted to enroll at DU, while Bangladeshi students will gain opportunities to pursue higher education in Pakistan. University authorities anticipate that this decision will foster cooperation in education, culture, and other areas of mutual interest.

Explaining the rationale, Prof Bidisha noted, “While ties with Pakistan were severed in the past, Dhaka University, as an academic institution, has a responsibility to provide opportunities for its students. Many of our students require access to Pakistan for scholarships and academic conferences. Through discussions, we resolved to restore normal academic relations.”

She clarified that the decision was driven purely by academic considerations and excluded political issues, such as Pakistan’s refusal to acknowledge the 1971 genocide. “This is about academic cooperation, not political dialogue,” Bidisha emphasized.

The ban, in place since December 2015, was originally imposed during an emergency syndicate meeting led by then-Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique. At the time, the restriction followed Pakistan’s denial of the genocide and atrocities during Bangladesh’s Liberation War.

The policy shift was preceded by a diplomatic milestone in September 2024, when Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Syed Ahmed Maroof, met DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmad Chowdhury. This marked the first such interaction in nearly a decade, laying the groundwork for renewed academic relations.

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