Dhaka Presidency College closed down

Policemen were deployed in front of Dhaka Presidency College at Dhanmondi after the authorities closed the institution yesterday following directives from the Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, Dhaka.Photo: STAR

Dhaka Presidency College was closed down yesterday following the direction of the education ministry due to alleged corruption of its principal.
In a letter through Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, the ministry previously asked the college authorities to close it down and tell the students to get admitted in another college.
The ministry also asked the Dhaka Education Board to stop the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) of the college.
However, teachers and students of the college staged demonstration at the college from 10:00am to 1:00pm yesterday when the news about the education ministry's letter spread out.
They demanded the caretaker government withdraws the decision to close down the college but removes the principal.
"Government cannot close the college due to corruption of its principal. Why are we getting punishment for the misdeeds of the principal?" a teacher of the college told The Daily Star.
Police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
The college office will remain open but its classes will not be held, college sources said.
In an investigation, education ministry recently found proofs of huge irregularities and corruption against principal Umme Habiba, board and college sources said.
Besides, another four investigations conducted by Dhaka Education Board and Dhaka District Commission found proofs of irregularities and corruption against her.
The main allegations against the principal are financial anomalies, teachers' recruitment through receiving bribes and autocratic activities, added the sources.