Home Economics Students Take to the Street at Midnight Demanding Principal's Resignation, Allege Police Baton Charge

Students of the Government College of Applied Human Science in the capital, affiliated with the University of Dhaka and formerly known as the Home Economics College, took positions on the street at midnight demanding the resignation of Principal Professor Meherunnesa.

After midnight on Thursday (5 November), the students were still demonstrating in position on the road in front of the college's main gate as this report was being written.

Earlier, over the cancellation of residential hall seats and a fine, students confined the principal in her office from 10:30am on Thursday until 11:30pm. Police later went to rescue the principal.

According to protesting students and college administration sources, before the Puja holiday a farewell programme for final-year master's students was held in the college auditorium. The programme had permission to run until midnight but ended at around 5am the next morning.

For using the auditorium beyond the permitted time, Principal Professor Meherunnesa cancelled the residential hall seats of the two students who coordinated the programme.

When those two students later went to apologise, a fine of Tk 12,600 for one night's air-conditioning and electricity bills was demanded as a condition for returning the seats. When the students refused to pay the fine, the situation worsened and at one stage they confined the principal in her office.

At around 11:30pm, police arrived and rescued the principal. At around 12:30am, the students then took positions on the road in front of the college and held a press briefing.

At the press briefing, the students alleged that instead of taking steps to resolve the situation, the principal called in a large number of police. They alleged that male police members baton-charged the female students, pulled them by their hair and hijabs, and snatched many of their mobile phones.

The protesters also claimed that several students were injured in the police action. They further said two students could not be found and expressed fear that they may have been arrested.

At the press briefing, the students placed four demands. The first was that no government examination of any kind would be allowed to be held on campus on Friday.

The second demand was that a clear answer must be given for the assault on the students at midnight and the snatching of their mobile phones, and that the police members involved must be served show-cause notices.

The third demand was that all activities of the college would remain closed until the principal provides a document in writing. In the fourth demand, the students said the teachers and employees who abetted the attack on the students and legitimised it have been declared unwelcome on campus.