Women struggling for accommodation in Dhaka
Every year, thousands of women come to Dhaka from different areas of the country to pursue their studies or to earn a living. But the severe lack of accommodation for women in Dhaka forces many of them to leave the capital and abandon their dreams. Those who do manage to find somewhere to live often have to make do with highly insecure conditions and extremely poor environments. While among those who fail to find accommodation, some are giving up on pursuing an academic or professional career altogether, despite being highly competent and having track records to show for that.
Not only is this unfair to women, but it is also resulting in huge losses for the nation across multiple fronts. Yet, the fact that the situation has remained unchanged for years point towards a disconcerting lack of concern among policymakers and the government in general.
Currently there are only 886 seats for "working women" in Dhaka's government-run hostels but none for unemployed women. Thus, those seeking jobs have to depend on sublet houses and private hostels, which too is difficult, as many landlords are reportedly reluctant to rent their rooms to single women.
Given the circumstances, it is clear that we are failing to provide women with fair academic and professional environments, even with whatever progress has been made in these institutions. Which is why the government should provide more living spaces for women in the capital, so that women who come to Dhaka from all across the country in pursuit of their dreams, are not forced to give them up.
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