Dhaka University has decided to include a special quota for trans gender students in the undergraduate programmes.

As part of measures to promote inclusivity, the university has taken this decision to create higher education opportunities for the otherwise ostracised community.

"They [trans people] will be able to get admission under the quota after providing related papers for confirmation," said a press release issued by the DU Public Relations office.

The university administration made the decision at a General Admission Committee meeting, chaired by Vice-Chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman, on Thursday.

Speaking to The Daily Star yesterday, Akhtaruzzaman said, "We took this decision with the aim to build an inclusive society and to ensure gender equity. This will help those who are deprived and neglected."

In a watershed development, 25-year-old Ankita Islam in December last year became the first openly trans woman to be admitted to the university to pursue her MBA under the Department of Management.

The admission tests of the undergraduate programmes for the 2022-23 academic year are scheduled to start from April 29 with the fine arts faculty (Cha Unit) entry test.

The admission tests will be held under four units from this year.

Those for the arts, law and social sciences faculties (Kha unit) are scheduled to be held on May 6, for science faculty (Ka unit) on May 12, and business studies faculty (Ga unit) on May 13.