At least 10 students of Dhaka University (DU) have fallen sick while observing fast unto death demanding rescheduling of both Dhaka city polls, slated for January 30.
The students are observing the hunger strike at the base of Raju Memorial Sculpture on the university campus to realize the demand as Saraswati Puja, one of the biggest festivals of Hindu community, falls on the same day.
Three students -- Apurba Chakrabarty of Theatre and Performance Studies Department, Orko Shaha of Soil, Water and Environment Department, and Prodip Das, Jagannath Hall Students' Union social service secretary -- were sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) in the afternoon Dhaka city polls.
Jagannath Hall Students' Union Vice President Utpal Biswas said the trio joined the protest again after being treated at the hospital.
"Only Sukesh Debnath of Pali and Buddhist Studies Department is undergoing treatment at DMCH as his condition deteriorated," he said.
Six other students were administered intravenous saline at the strike venue, he added.
Students of Dhaka University observe hunger strike demanding rescheduling of both Dhaka city polls, at the base of Anti Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture on the campus on Friday, January 17, 2020 | Dhaka Tribune
According to Utpal, also the general secretary of Jagannath Hall unit Chhatra League, at least 25 DU students began fast unto death at the base of Raju Memorial Sculpture from Thursday afternoon demanding deferment of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) elections.
Meanwhile, DU Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman met the protesting students at the Raju Memorial Sculpture around 4:30pm and expressed solidarity with them.
He said:"Students are doing protest which reflects their democratic values and non-communal courage. They are going through a systematic way.
"Their demand is logical and I urge the Election Commission to reconsider the date for holding the polls, other than the day of Saraswati Puja," he added.
In another development, Jago Hindu Parishad, a platform of the Hindu community, staged demonstration on the campus around 11:30am echoing the same demand.
On Sunday, the students started holding demonstration on the campus for the same demand.
On Tuesday, the students under the banner of "General students of DU" put blockade at Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka, hours after the High Court rejected a petition seeking a deferment of the January 30 elections. They also blockaded the same spot the next day.
An appeal petition was filed with the Supreme Court on Thursday challenging the High Court order.
