Students of Dhaka City College held protests once again on Wednesday demanding the resignation of acting principal Prof Kazi Neamul Hoq and vice principal Prof Md Muklasur Rahman – whom they accuse of being “illegally appointed” – causing traffic disruptions in the area.
They also called for the reinstatement of Prof Bedar Uddin Ahmed as principal, saying they would not attend classes or sit for exams until their demands were met.
Around noon, students took positions near the main college gate, resulting in a shutdown of traffic on adjacent roads.
Meanwhile, a protest by students from seven affiliated with Dhaka University demanding an independent university simultaneously blocked New Market Road, Mirpur Road and Elephant Road, causing severe congestion and inconveniencing commuters and pedestrians in the surrounding areas.
Earlier on Monday, students held a sit-in outside the college until evening, after which college authorities urged them to halt their protest.
In response to the escalating situation, Dhaka City College was closed on Tuesday.
The college’s governing board held an emergency meeting, issuing a notice signed by the acting principal with six key decisions:
- Prof Md Jahangir Hossain of the Accounting Department has been suspended for six months due to verbal abuse of students.
- A committee has been formed to investigate the suspension of Associate Prof Md Jahangir Alam Sumon from the Computer Science and Engineering Department; he will be reinstated promptly if found innocent.
- Previously collected retake fees will be refunded, and no charges will be applied for special classes or coaching.
- No disciplinary action will be taken against protesting students.
- Decisions on a picnic will be made in consultation with the students.
- No student’s guardians will be harassed.
The college authorities expressed hope that as the protesting students' “legitimate demands” had been addressed, they would end their demonstration and help restore a normal educational environment at the college.
However, the students rejected these decisions and resumed their protests.
Classes and exams were not held, and only a few teachers were present on campus.
The protesting students reiterated their stance saying they demanded the resignation of the acting principal and vice principal, adding that they would neither attend classes nor exams until their demands were met.