Students of Government Women’s College in Narayanganj staged a roadblock protest on Tuesday (February 18) to demand the cancellation of Principal Abul Kalam Azad’s transfer order. Around 11:30 AM, over a hundred students left their classes and took to the streets near Santona Market in Chashara, blocking the road for nearly an hour.
The protest caused a complete shutdown of vehicular movement on major city roads, including the Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road, leading to severe traffic congestion and inconvenience for commuters.
Later, the students lifted the blockade and returned to campus after assurances from the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and local police officials.
During the protest, the students voiced their frustration : We already protested against the transfer order on February 16, when nearly 900 of us submitted a memorandum to the Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner, demanding the cancellation of the principal’s transfer within 48 hours. However, the authorities paid no heed to our request.
They added, That’s why we’ve taken to the streets today. We will continue our protests and other programs until our demand is met. Our Principal, Abul Kalam Azad Sir, has played a pivotal role in improving the college’s educational standards and providing better facilities for students. During the student protests against discrimination last July-August, he stood by us, encouraging and motivating us.
They further emphasized : His leadership has significantly uplifted the college. All the students want him to remain in his position as principal. We demand the immediate withdrawal of his transfer order.
Earlier, on February 16, the students had boycotted classes and exams to demand the cancellation of the transfer order. They submitted a 48-hour ultimatum along with a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner. With no action taken after the deadline, they resumed their protests by blocking roads at the city’s Chashara intersection.
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