Jatiya Chhatra Shakti seeks maternity policy at CoU
The Cumilla University (CoU) unit of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti has submitted a memorandum to the university’s vice-chancellor, demanding the formulation of a permanent Maternity Academic Support Policy to ensure academic flexibility for female students during pregnancy and after childbirth.
The memorandum was submitted on Sunday under the leadership of the organisation’s CoU unit organiser, Syeda Nazifa Nafil.
In the memorandum, the organisation said many female students have to balance higher education with the responsibilities of motherhood. Pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal recovery period often make it difficult for them to attend regular classes due to health complications, medical treatment and the need for adequate rest.
As a result, many fail to meet the university’s attendance requirements, exposing them to attendance shortages, fines, semester drops and delays in their academic progress.
The organisation noted that several public universities in Bangladesh have already introduced maternity-related academic support measures and urged Cumilla University to adopt a permanent and comprehensive Maternity Academic Support Policy.
The memorandum put forward four key demands: allowing pregnant and postpartum students to sit for examinations without attendance-related penalties even if their attendance falls below 60 percent; providing flexibility in in-course examinations, midterm assessments and assignment submissions, with opportunities to complete them later; granting at least three months of maternity leave along with full academic flexibility during pregnancy and the postnatal period; and ensuring that the policy is implemented at the departmental level without administrative harassment.
Speaking on the issue, Syeda Nazifa Nafil said, “Napoleon once said, ‘Give me an educated mother, and I will give you an educated nation.’ Motherhood is one of the most significant phases in a woman’s life. However, the physical and mental challenges during this period often make it difficult to maintain regular academic activities.
Many female students face attendance fines, year drops or even the risk of discontinuing their education. We want a clear, humane and harassment-free policy so that no student falls behind because of motherhood.”
