The students of Dhaka University have ended their hunger strike after the Election Commission rescheduled the Dhaka city polls in the face of criticism and protests.
They broke the fast unto death around 8:50pm on Saturday following the fresh announcement by the commission setting February 1 for the city elections after backtracking from its earlier schedule on January 30.
The students, under the banner of "General Students of Dhaka University," had been on hunger strike at the base of Raju Memorial Sculpture on the university campus since Thursday afternoon, demanding a deferment of the elections since Saraswati Puja, one of the biggest festivals of the Hindu community, fell on the same day, January 30.
Dhaka University Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman served water and fruit juice to the demonstrators to bring the hunger strike to an end.
Jagannath Hall Students' Union Vice President Utpal Biswas, the spokesperson of the protesting students, told reporters: "We are very happy with the commission's decision, which was a result of our non-violent protest.
"We are calling off the protest," he added.
In his reaction, the VC thanked the commission for its decision to revise the polls schedule.
He said: "The students of Dhaka University placed their demand having been driven by a non-communal spirit and humanitarian values. I would like to express my thanks to the commission as it has honoured the demand of the students."
Alongside the students, minority platforms also staged demonstrations to press the same demand.
The top mayoral aspirants too urged the commission to revise the polls schedule so that the Hindu community could celebrate the festival without any impediments coming in the way.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) has called off its nationwide demonstration program in light of the rescheduling of the city polls.
The organization made its decision known through a press release signed by BHBCUC Secretary Rana Dasgupta.
