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Bangla Press Desk: Students of Dhaka University (DU) who had been on a hunger strike at the feet of the Raju Sculpture demanding implementation of referendum verdict ended their protest after 72 hours on Saturday.
They broke the hunger strike at around 3:00pm by drinking coconut water following a request from family members of those killed in the July movement.Relatives of several martyrs, including the fathers of Farhan Faiyaz, Saidul Islam, Jaber and Saikat, were present at the scene.
They expressed solidarity with the students’ demands and assured that a broader movement would be launched to press for implementation of the referendum verdict.Several students fell ill after ending the fast and were taken to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
The hunger strike began on Wednesday (8 April) at 6:00pm when Md Sadiq Munwar Munem, a student of the Department of International Relations, first took position.
He was later joined by Sakibur Rahman from the Sociology Department. On the following day, Sheikh Mostafiz, a student of the Department of Media, Communication and Journalism at North South University, also joined the movement.
The protesters put forward three key demands including implementation of the referendum verdict, prevention and redress of enforced disappearances, and placing important ordinances as bills in Parliament.
They also called for the announcement of a clear roadmap to implement the referendum decisions along with other provisions of the July Charter.
During the programme, leaders from various political parties, members of parliament and student representatives expressed solidarity. Among them were MPs Barrister Ahmad Bin Kasem Arman (Dhaka-14), Syed Zainul Abedin (Dhaka-4), Kamal Hossain (Dhaka-5), and Rashedul Islam Raju (Sherpur-1), as well as Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque, NCP leader Nasiruddin Patwari, DUCSU Vice-President Abu Shadik Kayem and General Secretary SM Farhad.
Others who expressed support included Pabna-1 MP Nazibur Rahman Momen, Barrister Shahriar Kabir, AB Party General Secretary Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad.
On Friday night, DU Vice-Chancellor Prof ABM Obaidul Islam visited the site and urged the students to withdraw the hunger strike, assuring them that their demands would be conveyed to the relevant authorities.
However, the students continued their programme at the time.
After more than 72 hours without any visible assurance from either the government or the opposition, the students finally withdrew the hunger strike following appeals from the families of the martyrs.
