Home Economics students end night programme, announce protest resumes at 8am Friday

Students of the Government College of Applied Human Science (formerly Home Economics College), an affiliate of the University of Dhaka in the capital, have ended their night-time programme with an announcement that their movement demanding the resignation of Principal Professor Meherunnesa will continue. They said the protest will start again from 8am on Friday (November 6).

The students announced the next programme at a press conference at 2:10am on Thursday night. They then wrapped up the night's programme at 2:20am.

Speaking for the students, Tamanna Islam said they would resume the programme from 8am. However, the movement will remain suspended during Friday's scheduled job examination, and will start again after the exam ends.

Earlier on Thursday night, the students had staged a sit-in protest on the road in front of the college's main gate demanding the principal's resignation. They chanted slogans including 'Why is police on my campus, administration must answer', 'Why was my sister beaten, we want answers' and 'Why is police in the girls' hall, we want answers'.

The movement began over the cancellation of residential hall seats and a fine. Over the incident, students confined the principal in her office from 10:30am on Thursday until 11:30pm. When police later went to rescue the principal, allegations of baton charges and harassment of the female students were raised.

According to protesting students and college administration sources, before the Puja holidays a farewell ceremony for final-year master's students was held in the college auditorium. The event had permission to run until midnight but ended at around 5am the next day. For using the auditorium beyond the permitted time, Principal Professor Meherunnesa cancelled the residential hall seats of the two students who coordinated the event.

When the two students later went to apologise, a fine of 12,600 taka — for one night's air-conditioning and electricity bill — was demanded as a condition for restoring their seats. When the students refused to pay the fine, the situation deteriorated, and at one stage they confined the principal in her office.

At around 11:30pm, police came and took the principal away to safety. Students then sat on the road in front of the college at around 12:30am and held a press conference.

At the press conference, the students alleged that instead of trying 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. They also claimed several students were injured in the police action. The protesters further said two students could not be found and expressed fear that they may have been arrested.

The students announced four demands: no government examination will be allowed to be held on the campus on Friday; a clear answer must be given for the midnight assault on the students and the snatching of phones, and the police members involved must be show-caused; all college activities will remain closed until the principal provides a written document; and the teachers and staff who abetted the attack on the students and legitimised it have been declared unwanted on the campus.