Students lock principal in office for nine hours over resignation demand

They locked her inside her office from 10:30am on Thursday and staged a sit-in protest, keeping her confined for around eight hours until 6:30pm.

On Thursday, students began the demonstration in front of the principal's office in the college's administrative building. They chanted slogans such as "One point, one demand, resignation resignation".

They said their longstanding grievances over the principal's alleged irregularities and arbitrary decisions had intensified following the recent decision to cancel the residential hall seats of two students and the demand for an additional payment over the auditorium's electricity bill.

According to protesting students and college administration sources, students from five departments of three residential halls organised a farewell programme for final-year master's students of the 2020-21 academic session at the college auditorium before the Puja vacation.

The authorities initially instructed them to conclude the programme by 10:00pm. Later, they extended the deadline to midnight at the students' request. However, the programme continued until around 4:00am to 5:00am.

Principal absent for nearly two years, still drawing salary

Principal Meherunnesa decided to cancel the residential hall seats of two students who coordinated the programme for using the auditorium beyond the permitted time. The students alleged that when the two sought forgiveness, the principal demanded Tk12,600 as payment for the auditorium's air-conditioning and electricity costs for one night as a condition for reinstating their seats.

Tabassum, a first-year master's student of the 2019-20 academic session, said, "This protest started because the authorities arbitrarily cancelled the seats of two students. When we pleaded with the madam for forgiveness, she said she had accepted our apology but, as punishment, we had to pay Tk12,600 as the auditorium bill for one night. It is not possible for us students to pay this amount."

She further alleged, "When we asked whether the amount could be waived, one of our students held the madam's feet and pleaded with her. But the madam pushed the student away with her foot. In other words, she kicked and pushed the student."

The students alleged that when they approached the principal on Thursday morning to discuss the issues, she refused to hear their concerns and scolded them. They subsequently locked her office at around 10:30am and began their sit-in programme. They announced that they would continue the protest until she resigned.

The protesters also alleged that the principal had imposed a series of unreasonable rules since joining the college from Begum Badrunnesa Government Women's College about a year ago. They further claimed that, while serving at her previous institution, she had switched off refrigerators and electricity connections in two residential halls.

The students also expressed dissatisfaction over an increase in monthly residential hall fees from Tk600 to Tk700 despite inadequate facilities.

They claimed that the authorities had announced a further Tk100 increase next year. The protesters also accused the principal of illegally subletting rooms in her government bungalow to outsiders.

Regarding the incident, college Vice-Principal Prof Habiba Yasmin said, "This morning, the secretary of our teachers' council and I were sitting in the principal's room. Suddenly, a large group of girls entered, saying they wanted to talk, and asked the secretary and me to come outside. I sensed that something might happen, so I asked Nasima, the principal's office assistant, to remain inside. As soon as they pulled me outside, they shut the principal's door, locked it at around 10:30am and started chanting slogans."

Explaining the decision regarding the auditorium and the two students' residential seats, the vice-principal said construction work was underway on the college campus, with many outside workers present. Considering the students' safety, the authorities had instructed them to finish the programme by midnight.

She said the initial decision to cancel the two students' seats was intended only as a warning to maintain discipline in the future. However, after the Puja vacation, the authorities decided last Sunday not to cancel the residential seats of the two final-year students.

She also said the auditorium's air conditioners and fans had remained operational until 5:00am, resulting in an electricity bill of Tk12,600. The authorities had asked the students to collect the amount from all residential students at Tk50 to Tk100 each to cover the cost.

The vice-principal said department heads and teachers had repeatedly offered to hold discussions with the protesters, but the students remained firm on their single demand for the principal's resignation. The students had also issued an ultimatum, saying they did not want to see the principal on campus after 5:00pm.

However, Prof Yasmin said the principal could not simply submit a resignation on a blank sheet of paper, as BCS cadre appointments are made through an order of the president. She added that the college authorities had already informed the director general of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) and the education secretary about the situation.

The administration was exercising maximum restraint to maintain calm on campus, she said.

Attempts to obtain a direct comment from Principal Meherunnesa at her office were unsuccessful as the protesting students obstructed the reporters and refused to unlock the door.

When contacted by phone later, Meherunnesa said, "I am busy now as the DG and principals of different colleges are coming here. Please contact me later."