Students block Dhaka-Mymensingh highway demanding removal of principal

Commuters have suffered immensely in Gazipur as students of a local college blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway for two hours today demanding the removal of their principal.

Students of Nasiruddin School and College in Salna demonstrated on the road from 10:15am to 12:15pm, bringing allegations of irregularities against the principal.

Many passengers left transport and started for their destinations on foot, reports our Gazipur correspondent.

Amid the student agitation, Principal Najma Nasrin was taken to Gazipur Police Station from the college, said Assistant Commissioner (Media) of Gazipur Metropolitan Police Asaduzzaman.

Later, police talked to the students and convinced them to free the highway, he added.

Photo: Star

Officer-in-Charge Ziaul Islam said the principal was taken to the police station considering her safety. The next course of action will be taken upon discussions with the deputy commissioner or his representative, upazila nirbahi officer and other officials.

The students took to the streets today after two guardians were beaten up by outsiders on the college premises when they went to the institution to protest the principal's "misbehaviours" with the students, said a student named Ruby.

"We have long been complaining against the principal but didn't get any solution. That's why we were forced to block the highway. Whenever we complained about her, she used to call us to her room and harass us.

"We will continue our agitations until Principal Najma Nasrin resigns."

Sohan, another student of the institution, alleged that the principal received various undue benefits from the previous committee and raised the tuition fees two to three times.

She also embezzled Tk 70,000 from the sale of old papers, he claimed.

Contacted, the principal said, "The allegations brought against me are false. Recently, the college committee has been formed through an election. It is awaiting approval from the board. Those who were defeated in the elections are conspiring against the committee and instigating the students."

Recently, following a writ filed against the committee with the High Court, an ad-hoc committee led by Gazipur Sadar UNO Syed Murad Ali was formed by the education ministry.

The UNO said a probe body will be formed to look into the allegations against the principal. The principal will not go to the institution until the matter is solved, he said.

On February 6, the students staged a similar protest and blocked the highway.