Mahmudul Hasan Mukhtar, a student from Government Titumir College, has announced an indefinite hunger strike and the continuation of the "Barasat Barricade to North City" (blockade of Dhaka North City Corporation), demanding the conversion of the college into a university.
He said: "From today (Saturday), we no longer demand the seven-point agenda. Instead, we will continue our hunger strike and the Barasat Barricade to North City program with the single demand for Titumir College to be recognized as a university."
Mukhtar made this announcement during a press conference held in front of the college’s main gate at around 8:15pm on Saturday.
He further added: "We reject the statement issued by the Ministry of Education. Instead of our previous seven demands, we are now declaring one demand for the conversion of Titumir College into a university. We demand that an official from the Ministry come to this college and inform us that our demand is being accepted and that Titumir College is now officially declared a university. Only then will we leave the streets and return to our studies."
Mahmudul Hasan Mukhtar, a political science student at Titumir College, said: "Our fellow students are continuing the hunger strike for the conversion of Titumir College into a university. Four of our students have already fallen seriously ill due to the hunger strike. Yet, the government shows no concern, and there are no visible efforts from them. We want to make it clear that we will not stop this movement until our demand is met. If it requires the sacrifice of students' lives, we are ready for that."
Upcoming program
The students, continuing their hunger strike and "Barasat Barricade to North City" program demanding the conversion of Titumir College into a university, have announced that their single-point program will continue until the college is declared a university.
As part of this, on Sunday, they will virtually participate in the final prayer of the Bishwa Ijtema from in front of the college. Afterward, the students plan to block the road from Mohakhali to Gulshan, and gradually, the entire area under the Dhaka North City Corporation will be blocked, as stated by Mukhtar.
