The authorities of Chattogram Imperial College of Nursing allegedly terminated its principal for her consecutive pregnancy.

Principal Dolly Akter also claimed that she and her eight-year-old baby were forcibly ‘driven out’ from the university hostel after the termination and taken to a residential hotel at midnight.

Imperial Hospital Limited, located in the city’s Zakir Hossain Road, runs the nursing college.

The principal alleged that she was dismissed from her position with just one day's notice and without any valid reason.

According to her, the correct procedure, which requires approval of the recruitment committee for such dismissals, was not followed.

The official notice of her dismissal, signed by Md Arifur Rahman, head of the hospital's human resources department, issued on 9 October, did not mention the reason for her dismissal.

Dolly claimed she was fired after being pregnant for the second year in a row.

The authorities granted her four months of maternity leave as per institutional rules after she became pregnant last year.

After being confirmed of pregnancy this year too, the college authorities began to harass her in various ways, she said.

HR officials told her that she had taken four months of maternity leave last year. This year she needs leave again. So it's best if she resigns and leaves.

When she refused to resign, the authorities summoned her to the human resources department on 9 October and pressured her dismissal.

As she refused again, she was handed over a termination letter asking to hand over all college-related documents to the secretary and vacate the hostel.

Talking to the Daily Sun on Sunday evening, Dolly said she urged the authorities to allow her time so that her husband, who stays in the capital, can take her.

But they gave her no time and were forcibly taken to a private hotel in the city at midnight.

“I have sent a complaint to the Chattogram Medical University authority through email and will submit it physically on Monday,” she said, adding that she will take legal action if she doesn’t get justice.

On the other hand, the head of the hospital's human resources departmentcouldn’t be contacted over the phone for comments despite repeated attempts.