Protest at Titumir after 3 female students, who wanted campus politics banned, lose dorm seats

They demanded a ban on student politics

A wave of protest has swept through Government Titumir College at night after the administration cancelled the residential hall seats of three female students who had demanded a ban on student politics on campus.

Residential students of the college’s Sufia Kamal Hall broke open the hall gate around 10pm on Tuesday and began protesting inside the premises.

They were seen shouting slogans, with most of them wearing face coverings.

Around 11:30pm, five students, their faces concealed with scarves and masks, briefed journalists on behalf of the protesters, refusing to disclose their identities.

One student said a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal committee was announced at Sufia Kamal Hall on Saturday without the knowledge of the general residents.

“We were not informed. In response, we held a hall meeting that night,” she said, adding they were later accused of mentally harassing committee members.

She added that an inquiry committee was formed but did not speak to general students.

“Without talking to anyone, they announced their decision and cancelled the seats of three students.”

The administration on Tuesday issued a notice cancelling the hall seats of Samia Akter Swarna, Umme Hafsa and Jannatul Ferdous Lima, ordering them to vacate the hall.

The notice said preliminary findings had proven allegations of bringing students to the dining hall and mentally harassing them.

On May 3, a 11-member Chhatra Dal committee for the hall was announced but later withdrawn following student protests.

A three-member investigation committee was formed afterwards.

The protesting students reiterated their demand for a politics-free residential hall, saying they rejected all forms of student politics.

Attempts to contact Principal Prof Sadruddin Ahmed for comment were unsuccessful.