JNU students break hunger strike after 35 hours.
JNU students broke their hunger strike of almost 35 hours after receiving a written promise from the ministry. AKM Rakib announced the withdrawal of the hunger strike at a press conference at 7 pm today, Monday.
Earlier, the students started their march from Jagannath University towards the Secretariat at 4 pm. They reached in front of the Secretariat at 4:45 pm. During this time sick students on hunger strike participated in the march by pushing rickshaws with saline stands. More than five hundred students of the university also participated along with the students on hunger strike.
At the press conference AKM Rakib said, ‘I have received a written promise that the agreement to hand over the work of the second campus to the army will be signed in the meeting to be held next Wednesday. In addition, they have promised to construct temporary steel-based buildings in Bani Bhaban and Dr. Habibur Rahman Hall. They have promised to discuss the issue of providing allowance to 70 percent of the students. As a result, we are calling off our hunger strike.’
He further said, ‘Since they (the government) have accepted two of the three demands and will verify one, we are calling off our hunger strike. All academic and administrative activities of the university will remain closed till Wednesday meeting.’
Earlier, students in front of the secretariat raised slogans like ‘Biplobe baliyan, nirbikaar jabian’, ‘Apsh na sangram, sangram sangram’, ‘Asan sangram, chele chele’, ‘Kobe diba campus’, ‘Proshashon ki kore, amar bhai onoshone’.
A letter was issued by the education ministry at 2 pm regarding the handover of the work of the second campus to the army. The letter stated that a meeting would be held at the secretariat on Wednesday regarding the handover of the work to the army. After receiving the letter, the students on hunger strike raised three counter-demands.
The demands are that the agreement to hand over the work of the second campus to the army be signed immediately. If necessary, it should be completed through a special meeting and presented visibly to everyone. While the students are on hunger strike, written commitments should be received from the authorities of the concerned ministries and departments and made public. No long-term arrangements should be made in the name of taking a few months; the work of the steel-based buildings of Bani Bhaban and Dr. Habibur Rahman Hall in Old Dhaka should be started and completed quickly; 70 percent of the students should be ensured of housing allowance till the day when the accommodation is arranged.
The students have been on hunger strike for the second consecutive day since this morning by shutting down the entire campus. In the morning, they locked the university gate, Shaheed Sajid Academic Bhaban (former BBA Bhaban) and Rafiq Bhaban. In solidarity with the strike program, academic and administrative activities in all departments and offices of the university were closed. Classes and examinations were not held in any department.
In this regard, the university’s treasurer, Professor Dr. Sabina Sharmin said, “Our children were on hunger strike risking their lives for the university and housing. I hope the work on the second campus will be completed soon.”
In this regard, the university’s Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Rezaul Karim said, “Due to the students’ movement, our activities have become easier and faster. Our work has progressed a lot. The status of the project will also be analyzed in the meeting. Then a final decision will be taken. In the meeting, we will discuss other issues of our demands in various fields.”
It is noteworthy that the students had been on hunger strike since 8:30 am yesterday. About 14 people were admitted to the hospital after falling ill during the hunger strike. They broke the hunger strike despite repeated requests from the Vice Chancellor.
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