BU students on hunger strike for 3-point demand

DEMANDS AT A GLACE

1. More academic buildings, dormitories, and other facilities
2. Acquisition of new land to widen the university campus
3. Introduce new buses for students and urgently repair the old ones

Seven students of Barishal University (BU) have staged a hunger strike to press home their three-point demand, including infrastructural development of the campus.

Around 10:30pm on Thursday, Sharmila Zaman Senjuti of the English department, Amiya Mondal of Journalism and Mass Communication, Tajul Islam of Accounting and Information Systems, Md Abu Bakar Siddique of Chemistry, Piyal Hasan of Philosophy, Ahmed Riaz of Public Administration, and Shawkat Osman of Law began the strike in front of the university's administrative building.

"We have been demonstrating for a long time demanding infrastructural development, but the administration has turned a blind eye. Having no other option, we are on hunger strike, and we will continue until our demands are met," said Amiya Mondal, a first-year student.

Since July 29, BU students have staged rallies, human chains, and road blockades to press home their demands.

The protesting students are demanding an increase in the number of academic buildings, dormitories, and other facilities; expansion of the campus area; introduction of new buses for students, and urgent repair of the existing transports.

BU Vice Chancellor Prof Md Taufiq Alam told The Daily Star that he expressed solidarity with the students.

"As a guardian, I stayed by their side throughout the night [during the hunger strike]. I agree with their demands," said the VC yesterday morning.

"We are considering their demands, but it is not possible to meet all of them overnight. The official process for land acquisition to expand the campus has already begun," he added.

He further said he urged the students to give them time for meeting their demands.