Five more students of Dhaka University have fallen sick on the third day of their hunger strike demanding rescheduling of Dhaka city polls slated for January 30.
The students - Abhi Das Pritom of marketing, Arnob Hore of Leather Engineering Institute, Dipom of Theatre and Performance Studies, Akash Chowdhury of tourism and hospitality management, fell sick on Saturday, reports UNB.
Earlier on Friday, the second day of the protest, ten other students had fallen sick.
About 40 Dhaka University students went on hunger strike at the campus on Thursday afternoon demanding deferment of the polls that coincides with the Saraswati Puja.
The Election Commission (EC) announced the date on December 22 last year, triggering criticism and protests. Dr Kamal Hossain said the decision was unjust.
Every year, Saraswati Puja is held at educational institutions as Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge and learning.
However, polling stations will be set up at different educational institutions in the city during the polls, which, many fear will hamper the Saraswati Puja celebrations.
Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof M Akhtaruzzman expressed solidarity with the students on Friday and said the students' demand was logical.
"I urge the Election Commission to defer the voting date considering the Saraswati Puja," he said.
Meanwhile, the Chamber Judge is likely to hear an appeal challenging a High Court order that rejected a writ petition to defer the polls.