Three Dhaka University students ended their four-day hunger strike on Saturday night following assurances from Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan that DUCSU Election Commission would be announced by June 2.
The students are Mohammad Bin Yamin Molla, President of Bangladesh Student Rights Council; Mohammad Mahtab Islam, Joint Convener of its DU unit; and Jamaluddin Muhammad Khalid, Convener of Independent Bangladesh Student Union.
They had been staging a hunger strike in front of VC’s residence, demanding the fulfilment of their key demands.
VC Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan assured the students of progress in Shammo’s murder probe and pledged to form the DUCSU EC by June 2. He also committed to ensuring a safe and intrusion-free campus environment. Based on these assurances, the students agreed to end their strike.
Jamaluddin Muhammad Khalid stated, “The VC elaborated on developments regarding the Shammo murder investigation and promised to form DUCSU EC by June 2. He also pledged to create a secure campus free from outsiders. We called off the strike on the basis of these commitments.”
Bin Yamin Molla said, “We were prepared to continue our movement, but the VC’s assurances and the administration’s responsible approach led us to withdraw for now. We will closely monitor implementation. If promises are broken, we will return to the streets.”
The hunger strike ended in the presence of VC Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Dr. Mamun Ahmed, with the strikers breaking their strike by drinking water offered by the two administrators.
The VC emphasised, “DUCSU elections are part of the university`s constitutional and democratic tradition. The process has already begun. We will ensure the Commission is formed by June 2. The students’ demands are justified, and the administration is committed to addressing them responsibly.”
The students had begun their indefinite hunger strike on May 21 at 12:30 PM, demanding the announcement of DUCSU roadmap, justice for Shammo and a safer campus. They warned that failure to fulfil the promises would reignite stricter protests.
