Students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Sust) have ended their hunger strike aimed at demanding removal of the university vice chancellor.
The students drank water to break their fast at the request of Dr Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, a former teacher of the university, at around 10am on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, the renowned writer and his wife Dr Yasmeen Haque, who is also a former teacher of Sust, reached the university campus and requested the students to call off their fast-unto-death.
In response, the students agreed to drink water together in the morning and break their fast.
Over 20 students of the university had been on a hunger strike since January 19 demanding immediate removal of Sust VC Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed.
Sust students have been holding protests since January 13, initially only demanding the resignation of Zafrin Ahmed, provost of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Hall.
Zafrin, who had been accused of misbehaving with some students, later resigned from her post, citing health issues in the face of protests. Her removal as provost of the residential hall for female students was one of the principal demands of the students protesting on the campus.
However, the students carried on with their protests after police charged batons and fired rubber bullets at them on January 16.
