Students demanding the resignation of Farid Uddin Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in Sylhet, have broken their hunger strike after 162 hours. At 10:20 am today, the students broke their fast at the request of Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, a former professor of Shabiprabir.
He went on a hunger strikers in front of the VC's residence at around 5.30 am today. At this time his wife Professor Yasmin Haque was with him. Earlier, the Jafar Iqbal couple came from Dhaka at around 4 am to break the students' hunger strike and listen to their demands. At that time they listened attentively to all the complaints of the students on hunger strike.
The students then agreed to break the fast at the request of popular teacher Zafar Iqbal. Then the rest of the students who were undergoing treatment from the hospital were brought to the hunger strikers. The Jafar Iqbal couple then broke the fast by giving water to 28 students who were on hunger strike. At this time the students broke down in tears.
It may be mentioned that on 13th January, several hundred students of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Hall started a movement against Provost Jafrin Ahmed demanding three points including her resignation by making various allegations including misconduct against her.
At one stage, the BCL attacked the agitating students. Police beat the students and fired shots and sound grenades at them. Later this movement turned into a one point demand for the resignation of Vice Chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed.
As the demands were not met in the first six days, 24 students went on a hunger strike in front of the VC's residence from 3 pm on January 19. Then four more students joined the fast. After a long 162-hour hunger strike, the students broke the hunger strike. Former SUST teacher Zafar Iqbal and his wife. #