Sylhet: The ongoing agitation demanding the resignation of VC Professor Farid Uddin Ahmed will continue and the blockade of other gates including the main gate and the gate of VC's residence will be lifted, the students said.
Romeo Nicolas Rosario said this at a press briefing at 11:15 pm on Wednesday night.
At that time, he said, as part of the movement demanding the resignation of VC Professor Farid Uddin Ahmed, more than 25 students went on hunger strike for 163 hours and 17 minutes. At the request of Professor Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal and Dr. Yasmin Haque withdrew from the hunger strike. The main reason for withdrawing from the hunger strike was the assurance that our one-point demand would be met. But at the same time, the agitators are making it clear that even if they withdraw from the hunger strike for the time being, the ongoing agitation will continue till the resignation of the VC.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday morning, the students made five demands on behalf of the students, referring to Professor Zafar Iqbal as the medium. Meanwhile, bail has been granted to five former SUST students arrested on charges of financing the student movement, the case against anonymous students has been withdrawn, medical expenses of the students on hunger strike have been reimbursed and treatment of seriously injured students has been given.
Romeo Nicolas Rosario added: "Our main demand is the withdrawal of the VC and the removal of the Student Counseling and Guidance Director and Proctorial Body on behalf of the students already conveyed to Dr. Zafar Iqbal." At the same time, all the residential halls of the campus which are currently in operation by the students on their own initiative will also be fully operational. At the request of Zafar Sir and Yasmin Mam, it has been decided that the students will soon lift the blockade in front of the main gate of the university and the residence of the VC. However, as always, the campus will be occupied by the students and they will continue their movement till the resignation of the Vice Chancellor, he said.
At a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, however, he described the confusion over word choice as "completely unwelcome and undesirable" and expressed regret that any word spoken by students during the VC's tenure had hurt anyone. He further added that the movement was solely for the resignation of VC.
The students also said that protests, sit-ins as well as protesting cultural activities would continue till the resignation of the Vice Chancellor.