Barishal University students start hunger strike over 3-point demand; VC joins in solidarity
Proctor Rahat Hossain Faisal said the students started the hunger strike because they have lost faith in the system
Seven students of Barishal University began a hunger strike on campus last night (4 September), pressing for the fulfilment of their three-point charter of demands.
In a rare gesture of solidarity, Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Taufiq Alam spent the night with the protesting students, lying beside them till around 1am today to show support and help maintain a peaceful environment.
The VC also held discussions with the demonstrators, saying, "We are doing our best to meet the students' reasonable demands. The progress will be made public within the next week."
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However, the students declared they would continue their hunger strike until all demands are met.
The protest entered a new phase on the 37th day of their ongoing movement, which centres around three key demands: the urgent improvement of the university's infrastructure, expansion of the campus to meet growing academic needs, and resolution of the persistent transportation crisis.
The students who started the hunger strike are Sharmila Zaman Senjuti from the English Department, Amiya Mandal from the Mass Communication and Journalism Department (2022–23 session), Tajul Islam from the Accounting and Information Systems Department (2021–22 session), Abubakar Siddique from the Chemistry Department (2022–23 session), Piyal Hasan from the Philosophy Department (2021–22 session), Tamim Ahmed Riaz from the Public Administration Department (2021–22 session), and Shawkat Osman Sakkhar from the Law Department.
Shawkat Osman Sakkhar, one of the students on hunger strike, stated that despite their prolonged protest with reasonable demands, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has not attempted to contact them once. That is why they were forced to start a hunger strike.
He said they will continue the strike until their demands are fulfilled.
Tajul Islam Taj, another student, said that they held two press conferences and even 'occupied' Novo theatre and Bitac.
Still, no one responded.
Tajul said if no one contacts them or makes a promise, they will continue the hunger strike.
Barishal University Proctor, Associate Professor Rahat Hossain Faisal, said the students' demands are reasonable.
He added that development work is ongoing and land acquisition is happening in different stages. He also said the students started the hunger strike because they have lost faith in the system.
