UNB, Sylhet :
The hunger strike by some students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) demanding the Vice-Chancellor’s resignation entered the sixth day on Monday with no sign of ending the stalemate in sight.
On Sunday afternoon, four more students joined their fellows in the hunger strike taking their total number to 27.
The unrest at the university deepened on Sunday evening as its protesting students disconnected electricity supply to the Vice-Chancellor’s residence as he refused to step down as per their demand.
On day five of the hunger strike, 15 of the 24 students on hunger strike since Wednesday 3 pm remained admitted to different hospitals in the city.
Earlier, one of the 24 hunger-strikers had to withdraw from the strike due to his relative’s sickness.
The students went on the strike unto death demanding resignation of Vice-Chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed following the police action on the protesting students as his behest on January 16.
The police charged batons, fired sound grenades and shotgun bullets to disperse the protest on Sunday afternoon (Jan 16) while students reacted by throwing brick chips at them. At least 40 people were hurt, including teachers, students and police personnel, during the clash.
Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed was confined to a locked room by the students for three hours before that.
A provost of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Hall, a dorm for females, was at the centre of the initial troubles as she reportedly misbehaved with some students on January 13. She has already resigned from her post, citing health issues.
Zafrin’s removal as the provost of the residential hall for female students was one of the major demands of the students protesting on the campus. But it has now escalated to the general students as well.
