KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Asian University for Women (AUW) in Bangladesh has confirmed the withdrawal of 13 Afghan students, saying they had failed to meet minimum academic requirements over several consecutive years and were recently removed from the university in line with its policies.
In a letter to KabulNow, AUW said eight of the 13 students have returned to Afghanistan, while the remaining five are considering different options and would stay on campus for another semester.
The university’s statement followed a claim by one of the withdrawn students, who told KabulNow that AUW had expelled at least 160 Afghan students. The university rejected the claim, confirming that only 13 students had been withdrawn and stressing that it does not take such decisions lightly.
“In cases where students have to return to difficult circumstances, the University exercises extraordinary latitude – not only the period of time allowed at the University is extended beyond the policy framework but an array of support services, including individualized tutoring, when possible, are offered,” the university wrote.
Speaking to KabulNow earlier this week, one of the students said her grade average had fallen due to illness during examinations, which prevented her from continuing her studies. She said she survived attacks on the Sayed-ul-Shuhada School and the Kaaj Educational Center in western Kabul, experiences that left her with lasting psychological trauma.
Another student who recently returned to Afghanistan told KabulNow that the university sent her back because of “lack of progress”. She was also among those injured in an attack on an educational institution in western Kabul in recent years.
In its letter, AUW explained that its academic policies require a student’s enrollment to lapse when the student persistently fails to meet minimum academic requirements over a number of years. The university said the requirement applies to students regardless of their nationality.
The university also cited immigration requirements as a factor affecting international students. It said students at AUW reside in Bangladesh on student visas governed by Bangladeshi immigration laws. Visa extensions require documentation and a recommendation from the educational institution and may be granted for the duration of a student’s course of study.
Students who fail to meet the university’s academic requirements cease to be eligible for visa extensions, AUW said.
The university also said it recognizes that losing student status can have serious consequences, particularly for Afghan women given the current educational situation in Afghanistan.
“The University recognizes that the consequences of losing student status are serious, particularly for Afghan women, given the current educational circumstances in Afghanistan, which is why academic dismissals are rarely issued,” it said.
The university said it has hosted more than 800 Afghan students over the years, making it the largest host of Afghan women students among universities. Of those, 480 are currently enrolled at AUW, it said.
According to AUW, Afghan students receive full scholarships covering accommodation, food, tuition, healthcare, international travel and educational expenses. In some cases, the university said, travel costs for a mahram are also covered.
AUW said Afghan students continue to achieve academically and professionally, with some graduates going on to pursue further education at universities including Oxford, Stanford, Cornell and Brown. Others have secured internships and employment opportunities in Singapore, Thailand and other countries, it said.
The university said 480 of its 2,100 currently enrolled students are Afghan nationals and reiterated its commitment to providing talented women with opportunities to pursue higher education.
The Asian University for Women is an independent international institution in Bangladesh established to educate women from across Asia. It significantly expanded its admission of Afghan students after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, when girls and women were excluded from Afghanistan’s education system.
