Students of the Government College of Applied Human Science, affiliated with the Dhaka University, took to the streets around midnight on Thursday, demanding the resignation of Principal Prof Meherunnesa over the cancellation of two students’ residential hall seats and a disputed Tk12,600 fine.
The protest came after students confined the principal to her office for nearly 13 hours, from 10:30am to 11:30pm, demanding that she reverse the decision and address their allegations.
Police arrived at around 11:30pm and rescued the principal. Shortly afterwards, at around midnight, the students gathered on the road in front of the college and held a press briefing, alleging that police had assaulted female protesters during the operation.
The protesters claimed that male police officers baton-charged female students, and snatched several mobile phones. They also alleged that several students were injured and two others could not be found following the incident.
At the press briefing, the students accused the principal of calling in a large police contingent instead of taking steps to resolve the dispute.
They announced four demands- no government examinations on the campus on Friday; a clear explanation of the alleged assault on female students and seizure of their phones, along with show-cause notices to the police personnel involved; written documentation from the principal, failing which all college activities would remain suspended; and a ban on campus entry for teachers and employees who allegedly instigated the attack on students and justified it.
The dispute reportedly began over a farewell programme organised before the Puja holidays at the college auditorium for final-year postgraduate students from five departments across three residential halls.
According to the students, the programme was initially scheduled to end by 10pm. However, following their request, the deadline was extended until midnight. The event eventually continued until 5am.
The principal subsequently cancelled the residential hall seats of two students who had coordinated the programme, citing the use of the auditorium beyond the permitted hours.
Students alleged that when the two approached the principal to apologise and seek reinstatement of their seats, she demanded Tk12,600 to cover the auditorium’s air-conditioning and electricity costs for one night.
Tabassum, a first-part postgraduate student, told journalists that the cancellation of the two students’ seats was the reason behind the protest.
“This movement began because the seats of two students were cancelled unjustifiably. When we apologised to Principal Professor Meherunnesa, she said she had accepted our apology but insisted that, as punishment, we pay Tk 12,600 to cover the auditorium’s electricity and air-conditioning costs for one night. It is not possible for us students to pay this amount,” she said.
However, Principal Meherunnesa rejected the students’ account, saying they had violated the agreed schedule despite being granted permission to use the auditorium until midnight.
“What the students are saying is totally the opposite of what happened. I had given them permission to hold a programme until midnight. They continued until 5am. After the programme, I became a little angry and cancelled the seats of two students,” she told journalists in the evening.
She said the students later apologised and that she had shown some leniency, but insisted that they should face disciplinary action for violating the rules.
“I told them that since they had failed to maintain discipline, they would have to face punishment to ensure discipline in the future. They wasted electricity for a long period, and I will collect the bill from them. I issued the fine notice, and that is my crime,” she said.
The principal also alleged that the students had demanded her resignation in writing on a blank sheet of paper.
“They are asking me to sign my resignation on a blank sheet of paper. Why should I resign at their demand?” she said.
