Professors from Rabindra University, officials locked up by protesters

Student protesters locked 15 teachers and 20 Rabindra University officials in the university building demanding the expulsion of Farhana Yeasmin, the teacher accused of forced haircuts.

Protesters locked the building at 4 p.m. Sunday, Laila Ferdous, head of the investigation committee and chair of Rabindra’s studies department, confirmed to Dhaka Tribune.

Earlier today, a student at Rabindra University attempted suicide during a protest by drinking poison after the institution failed to fire Farhana.

The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, as university students again went on a hunger strike to demand the eviction of Farhana, now former chairman of the Department of Cultural Heritage and Studies of the Bangladesh.

Previously, one of 14 female students in the department whose hair Farhana had cut attempted suicide by ingesting sleeping pills after feeling humiliated on September 27.

This incident had sparked continued protests at the university, demanding action against the teacher. The teacher had resigned from three positions she held after the protests began.

Authorities have also investigated the case, but have yet to render a decision on the matter.

On September 26, Farhana forcibly cut the hair of 14 students in her department before an exam. She allegedly asked them to cut their hair before attending the exams. The students had previously protested that the tight exam schedule did not suit Farhana.

Feeling humiliated, one of the students, named Nazmul Hasan Tuhin, attempted to kill himself by ingesting sleeping pills the next day.

On September 28, the students began their protest – boycotting the exams and closing the university building – pushing for Farhana’s dismissal.

Two days later, the Syndicate suspended Farhana, indefinitely banning her from academic and administrative activities until further notice, while students halted the protests following assurances from the Minister of Education.

However, the students began a sit-in protest and a hunger strike from Friday evening, with no decision made at the union meeting that evening.