Students protesting at Government College of Applied Human Science, formerly known as Home Economics College, have demanded an impartial investigation into alleged police baton charges and physical harassment of students on the campus late Thursday night.
They said the college authorities had neither called the police nor known in advance about their entry, and questioned who had ordered the police to enter the campus and attack students in the middle of the night.
The demands were raised at a press briefing in front of the college’s main gate on Saturday afternoon.
The students said a meeting was held earlier in the day between the protesters, college Vice-Principal Professor Habiba Yesmeen and heads of different departments.
According to the students, Habiba said she had spoken directly with Principal Professor Dr Meherun Nessa, who told her that students had neither physically attacked nor harassed her.
The vice-principal and department heads present at the meeting also described the students’ movement as non-political, non-violent and peaceful, the protesters said.
They further said the vice-principal and department heads had told them that the college administration knew nothing beforehand about the police entering the campus late at night and had taken no initiative to call them.
Questioning the circumstances surrounding the police operation, the students asked who had authorised the entry if the college authorities had not called the police. They also questioned why female students at a women’s educational institution had been subjected to baton charges and physical harassment without legal authority or administrative approval.
The protesters demanded accountability from the home ministry, the relevant government authorities and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner.
They also called for an impartial investigation committee to identify the police officers involved and those who ordered the operation, as well as exemplary punishment for those found responsible.
The students said they had been staging a peaceful movement since Thursday, demanding the principal’s resignation. Following the alleged police action late that night, they issued a 72-hour ultimatum on Friday. Saturday was the second day of the deadline.
They warned that the movement would continue if their demands were not met within the stipulated time.
Their two main demands are the resignation of Principal Professor Dr Meherun Nessa and the formation of an impartial probe committee to investigate the midnight police action, publish a preliminary report and ensure justice.
