Seven students who went on hunger strike demanding a re-run of the Dhaka University Central Students Union (Ducsu) election, on Tuesday, are continuing their protest.
They again gathered at the base of the Raju Sculpture, near the TSC, Thursday morning, and said they will continue their protest until their demands are met by Dhaka University (DU) authorities.
The students observing the hunger strike demanding fresh Ducsu polls are: Mim Arafat Manob and Tauhid Tanjim, fourth-year students from the Computer Science and Engineering Department; Shoeb Mahmud, a second-year student from the Physics Department; Md Mainuddin, second-year student from the Population Sciences Department; Rafia Tamanna, a third-year student from the Mass Communication and Journalism Department; Al Mahmud Taha, a second-year student from the Zoology Department; and Anido Mondol, third-year student from the Philosophy Department.
Mim Arafat Manob was a candidate of the Progressive Students’ Alliance panel for the international secretary post, Tauhid Tanjim was an independent candidate for the transport secretary post, Shoeb Mahmud was a Progressive Students’ Alliance panel candidate for the cultural secretary post of Shahidullah Hall, Anido Mondol was a candidate for the member post of Jagannath Hall and, Md Mainuddin was a candidate of the Progressive Students’ Alliance panel for the cultural secretary post of Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall.
Meanwhile, one of the students observing hunger strike, Anido Mondol, fell very ill and was taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for treatment.
Commenting on the proceedings, Anido's classmate Tahid Jamil said: "Anido has been released from the hospital. Later, he was brought to Jagannath Hall. He is receiving saline."
Mim Arafat Manob, who is one of the students observing hunger strike said: "I do not think they will let us die. We will be taken to the hospital before something like that happens. We will continue our hunger strike until the university administration declares a new schedule for fresh Ducsu polls."
Furthermore, expressing their solidarity, 14 students of DU's Department of Physics have assembled at the base of the Raju Sculpture with various placards and posters demanding a re-run of the Ducsu polls.
Previously, the long-overdue elections for Ducsu and its hall unions were held on Monday.
Quota Reform Movement leader Nurul Haq Nur was elected vice-president (VP) of Ducsu, while Bangladesh Chhatra League general secretary Golam Rabbani was elected as its general secretary.
Eight of nine secretary posts went to candidates from the Chhatra League panel.
After the results were published, all panels—except that of Chhatra League—rejected the results alleging irregularities. They demanded a re-run of the election for all the posts—except those of the vice president and social welfare—plus announced that they will boycott classes for an indefinite period of time.
