Students of Government College of Applied Human Science, formerly known as Government Home Economics College, continued their protest until Friday afternoon, demanding an impartial investigation into an alleged police attack on students during a midnight operation at the campus and declaring the principal unwanted.
The protesters have left the street after giving the authorities a 72-hour ultimatum to form an impartial investigation committee and take action against the police personnel responsible for the alleged attack, warning of tougher program if their demands are not met.
The students resumed their sit-in blocking the road in front of the college on Friday morning, a day after police entered the campus to rescue Principal Professor Meherunnessa, who had been confined to her office by protesting students.
In a two-point demand, the students called for an impartial investigation committee to be formed within the next 72 hours to investigate what they described as a brutal police attack on students in the early hours of Friday.
They demanded that the police personnel and officials responsible for the incident be identified and face exemplary departmental and legal action.
The protesters also declared the principal of the college, Meherunnessa, unwanted on behalf of all students of the college.
They said all administrative activities, classes and examinations would remain suspended indefinitely until the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education issued an official government notification regarding her resignation.
The students also made it clear that they would not withdraw from their position based on verbal assurances.
In addition, they demanded exemplary punishment for teachers and employees who allegedly instigated or supported the assaults on students on the campus and in residential halls.
A student who took part in the protest said several students were injured in the police baton charge overnight, with one currently receiving treatment at a hospital. The student alleged that the college authorities had yet to contact the protesters despite the incident.
"We want an impartial investigation into the police attack and exemplary punishment for those responsible. We will not withdraw from our position until the authorities take action and the principal's resignation is officially announced," the student said.
The protesters also appealed to the education minister, home minister and senior police authorities to intervene in the matter.
The protest began around 10:30am on Thursday, when students gathered in front of the principal's office and staged a demonstration. They later locked the office, confining the principal inside.
At around 11:30pm, police arrived at the college and rescued the principal after she had remained confined for nearly 13 hours. However, more than a hundred students continued their demonstration on the road in front of the college, with protests continuing until around 2:30am.
During the police operation, personnel allegedly dragged students down the stairs by their hair, beat them and charged at them with batons. The protesters claimed that several students were injured.
What sparked the protest
The dispute originated over a farewell program held at the college auditorium before the Puja vacation.
According to protesting students and college administration sources, postgraduate final-year students from five departments across three residential halls were initially permitted to use the auditorium until 10pm. Following their request, the deadline was extended to midnight. However, the program continued until 5am.
Following the event, Principal Meherunnessa decided to cancel the residential seats of two students who had coordinated the program, citing the use of the auditorium beyond the permitted time.
The students alleged that when the two students later apologized and requested the restoration of their seats, the principal demanded Tk 12,600 as a fine for the auditorium's air-conditioning and electricity expenses for the night.
Besides, the protesters also claimed that there had long been allegations against the principal regarding various irregularities, arbitrary conduct and mistreatment of students.
However, the principal denied the allegations.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday evening, Meherunnessa said the students had been permitted to hold the program until midnight but continued it until 5am. She said she initially cancelled the residential seats of the two organizers out of anger but later softened her position after they apologized.
Responding to the demand for her resignation, she said, "They are asking me to sign my resignation on a blank piece of paper. Why should I resign to them?"