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BU Students Protest Hits Day 37; 7 Begin Hunger Strike
A section of students at Barishal University (BU) entered the 37th day of their ongoing protest on Thursday, demanding resolution of a three-point charter, including infrastructure development, campus expansion, and a solution to their transportation crisis.
As part of the protest, seven students began a hunger strike to death at 10pm on Thursday. They are in front of the university's Academic Building-1.
Earlier in the day, the protesting students also blocked the Barishal-Kuakata highway to press their demands.
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, said that although they have been protesting for a long time with reasonable demands, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has not tried to contact them even 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' Novotheater and Bitak. Still, no one responded.
He said if no one contacts them or makes a promise, they will continue the hunger strike.
Barishal University Proctor, Associate Professor Dr. Rahat Hossain Faisar, said the students' demands are reasonable. He added that development work is ongoing and land acquisition is happening in different stages, reports UNB.
He also said the students started the hunger strike because they have lost faith in the system.