The students have called a sit-in outside the college gate this Saturday and maintained their boycott of classes and examinations.
Female students of Government College of Applied Human Science in Dhaka have announced a fresh programme demanding the resignation of Principal Dr. Meherun Nessa. They will stage a sit-in outside the college gate on Saturday afternoon after issuing a 72-hour ultimatum.
The students also said their decision to boycott classes and examinations would remain in effect. They made the announcement at a press conference on Saturday afternoon.
Earlier, on Friday (November 6), students held a press conference outside the college’s main gate. They declared the principal unwelcome on campus and demanded an investigation into an alleged police attack during a midnight operation.
At the press conference, the students placed two key demands. First, they called for an impartial investigation committee to be formed within 72 hours to examine the alleged police attack.
Second, they demanded that the police officers and members involved in the incident be identified. They also called for exemplary departmental and legal action against those responsible.
The students said all administrative activities, classes and examinations at the college would remain suspended indefinitely. They said these activities would not resume until the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) issued an official government notification regarding the principal’s resignation.
They also warned that they would announce stricter protest programmes if their demands were not met. The students said their movement would continue until they received assurances from the administration about fulfilling their demands.
How the protest began
The latest announcement follows several days of protests at the college, formerly known as Home Economics College.
On Thursday (November 5), students began protesting at around 10:30am. They demanded the principal’s resignation, accusing her of arbitrary conduct. At one point, they confined her to her office.
The situation continued for around 13 hours. At approximately 11:30pm, police rescued the principal from her office. During the operation, allegations emerged that police personnel had charged at students with batons.
Since Thursday night, students have continued their protests on both sides of the road in front of the institution. Their demonstrations brought traffic to a standstill on the road between Nilkhet Intersection and Azimpur Bus Stand.
The students have now announced a sit-in for Saturday afternoon. Their class and examination boycott will also continue as they press for the principal’s resignation and an investigation into the alleged police action.
