The protesters said they would continue their demonstration throughout the day until their demands were met.
Protesting students gather in the administrative building of Government College of Applied Human Science to confine the principal to her office on Thursday (5 November 2026). Photo: Courtesy
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Protesting students gather in the administrative building of Government College of Applied Human Science to confine the principal to her office on Thursday (5 November 2026). Photo: Courtesy
Students of Government College of Applied Human Science, formerly known as Home Economics College, blocked roads in the capital for the second consecutive day today (6 November), demanding the resignation of Principal Professor Meherunnesa and justice over an alleged police attack on protesters, among other demands.
The students took position on both sides of the road in front of the college shortly after 10:30am, disrupting traffic in the area, reports Prothom Alo.
The protesters said they would continue their demonstration throughout the day until their demands were met. However, none of the students agreed to speak to the media on record, citing their names and identities.
Speaking to Prothom Alo this morning, Mohammad Jamil Hossain, officer-in-charge of Lalbagh Police Station, said more than 50 students had blocked the road and were chanting slogans demanding the principal’s resignation.
He added that the protesters had raised several other demands and no untoward incident had been reported.
The students are demanding the resignation of Principal Professor Meherunnesa, show-cause notices for police personnel accused of beating students with batons inside the campus, and an indefinite suspension of all campus activities until the principal submits her resignation in writing.
They have also demanded that teachers and employees who allegedly attempted to justify the police action be declared unwelcome on campus.
The latest demonstration follows a sit-in staged by students in front of the principal’s office on Thursday. The protesters began the programme around 10:30am and later confined the principal to her office. Police rescued her at around 11:30pm.
Students alleged that police baton-charged them during the operation, leaving several injured.
Following the incident, protesters continued their demonstration on the road outside the college late into last night before returning to the streets on Friday.
According to students and college administration sources, tensions began over a farewell programme organised at the college auditorium before the Puja holidays for final-year postgraduate students from five departments across three residential halls.
The programme was initially scheduled to conclude by 10pm. However, following requests from students, the deadline was extended to midnight. The event eventually continued until 5am.
Citing the use of the auditorium beyond the permitted hours, Principal Meherunnesa cancelled the residential hall seats of two students who had coordinated the programme.
The students later apologised, but the principal allegedly demanded Tk12,600 to cover the auditorium’s air-conditioning and electricity costs for one night as a condition for reinstating their seats.
The incident triggered protests by students, which have since escalated into demands for the principal’s resignation and action against the police personnel involved in the alleged assault.
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