Students staging a protest to press for a three-point demand, including the implementation of the referendum verdict and the July Charter, have ended their hunger strike after nearly 72 hours. The three students called off their fast on Saturday afternoon following requests from several members of families of martyrs. They were later taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for medical check-ups.
Among the three, Sadik Monowar Munem and Sakibur Rahman were given primary treatment at the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital before being taken to the Dr Mohammad Mortoza Medical Centre at the University of Dhaka.
Earlier, on Wednesday afternoon, Sadik Monowar began an indefinite hunger strike at the base of the Raju Sculpture on the Dhaka University campus, demanding the implementation of the referendum verdict, an end to the politicization of state institutions, and the placement of key ordinances—including those related to enforced disappearances—before parliament as bills. Sakibur joined him in solidarity later that evening, while Iqbal Hossain Shaheen, a student from a private university, joined the strike on Thursday.
The students’ demands include ending what they described as “dramatics” over the referendum, placing the issues mentioned in the referendum before parliament, and implementing the public mandate. They also called for all key ordinances, including those on the prevention of enforced disappearances and remedies, to be presented in parliament as bills. Additionally, they demanded the publication of a comprehensive roadmap for implementing other provisions outlined in the July Charter beyond those included in the referendum.
