At least 10 students of Dhaka University (DU) fell in sick during their fasting unto death for the second consecutive day on Friday demanding deferment of the elections in two city corporations on January 30, the same day of Saraswati Puja. Meanwhile, DU Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Md Akhtaruzzman expressed his solidarity with their movement and urged the Election Commission to reconsider the voting schedule.
Three among the sick students were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Utpal Biswas, Vice President of Jagannath Hall Students’ Union, said, Apurba Chakrabarty of Theatre and Performance Studies Department, Orko Shaha of Soil, Water and Environment Department and Pradeep Das, hall union’s Social Service Secretary were admitted to DMCH.
Seven others were also undergoing treatment, Biswas added. According to Utpal, at least 25 DU students began fasting unto death at the base of Raju Memorial Sculpture on the campus from Thursday afternoon demanding rescheduling of Dhaka North and South city corporation polls.
Meanwhile, DU Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Md Akhtaruzzman visited the protesting students and expressed his solidarity with the students’ movement. He said, "The movement and protest of the students reflect their democratic rights and values. It is also the non-communal courage as well. They are going it through a systematic way.”
Terming the students’ demand logical, the DU VC I urged the Election Commission to reconsider the election date. Besides, Jago Hindu Parishad, a platform of the Hindu community, staged demonstrations on the campus. They gathered in front of the Raju Sculpture and formed a human chain at around 11:30am with the same deman.
