Home Economics College students leave street after 72-hour ultimatum for probe into police assault

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 during a midnight operation on the campus and declaring the principal unwanted.

The protesters withdrew from the streets after giving the authorities a 72-hour ultimatum to form an impartial investigation committee and take action against the police personnel involved in the alleged assault.

They warned of tougher programmes if their demands were not met.

The students resumed their sit-in on Friday morning, blocking the road in front of the college, 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 protesters called for an impartial investigation committee to be formed within 72 hours to probe what they described as a brutal police attack on students in the early hours of Friday.

They also demanded that the police personnel and officials responsible be identified and face exemplary departmental and legal action.

The students declared Meherunnessa unwanted on behalf of the college's student body and said all administrative activities, classes and examinations would remain suspended indefinitely until the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education issued an official notification confirming her resignation.

They ruled out accepting verbal assurances, insisting that they would not withdraw their demands without formal action from the authorities.

The protesters also demanded exemplary punishment for teachers and employees who allegedly instigated or supported assaults on students on the campus and in residential halls.

A student involved 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 not contacted the protesters following 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 called on the education minister, home minister and senior police officials to intervene.

The protest began around 10:30am on Thursday, when students gathered outside 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 Meherunnessa, who had been confined for nearly 13 hours. However, more than a hundred students continued their demonstration on the road outside the college, with the protest lasting 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 said several students were injured.

The dispute began over a farewell programme 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. The deadline was later extended to midnight at their request, but the programme continued until 5am.

Following the event, Principal Meherunnessa decided to cancel the residential seats of two students who had coordinated the programme, citing their use of the auditorium beyond the permitted hours.

The students alleged that when the two organisers later apologised and sought the restoration of their seats, the principal demanded Tk 12,600 to cover the auditorium's air-conditioning and electricity expenses for the night.

The protesters also alleged that the principal had long faced complaints of irregularities, arbitrary conduct and mistreatment of students.

Meherunnessa, however, denied the allegations.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday evening, she said the students had been allowed to hold the programme until midnight but continued it until 5am. She said she initially cancelled the residential seats of the two organisers out of anger but later reconsidered her decision after they apologised.

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?"