Chittagong University students end hunger strike after VC’s assurance

Nine students spend three days fasting outside proctor’s office

Nine students of Chittagong University (CU) have ended their hunger strike on the third day after the vice-chancellor (VC) assured them that their seven-point demands would be met.

On Friday at 4:30pm, VC Prof Muhammad Yeahia Akhter offered juice to the students, who were sitting outside the proctor’s office, ending their fast.

Protesting student Dhruva Barua told bdnews24.com that their key demand was the resignation of the proctorial body along with other conditions.

“The VC has assured us that our demands will be fulfilled. On this promise, we have ended our hunger strike,” he said.

He added that all the hunger strikers, including three students receiving treatment at the university medical centre, were present at the time.

The hunger strike began on Wednesday at 1pm when the nine students sat outside the proctor’s office under the banner of “Rights Conscious Students”, demanding a safe campus, the resignation of the proctorial body and other five demands.

The students involved were Omar Samudra, Dhruva and Sudarshan Chakma from the Department of Bangla; Isha De and Jashad Zakir from the Department of Music; Ahmed Mughdha and Naim Shahjahan from the Department of English; Sumaiya Shikdar from the Department of Marketing; and Ramra Sain Marma from the Department of Sports Science.

On the second day in the evening, two pro-vice chancellors visited the strike site and proposed talks with the protesters, but the students rejected the offer and insisted on a clear commitment to their demands.

Three students fell ill during the strike and were admitted to the university medical centre due to worsening condition.