Under the banner of Adhikar Sachetan Shikkharthi Brindo, leftist organisations and general students, nine students are staging an indefinite hunger strike, demanding the resignation of the proctorial body along with seven other key demands. 

The strike, which began on Wednesday (10 September) at 12:30pm in front of the University Proctor’s office, has now crossed 35 hours. 

Despite visits by university officials attempting to negotiate, the students have refused to break their strike.

University administration visits protesting students on 11 Sep. Photo: TBS

As of yesterday, four students have fallen ill due to the prolonged fast. 

They are Zashad Zakir, Dhrubo Barua, Sumaiya Sikder, and Sudarshan Chakma, president of the Hill Tracts Students’ Council. Other participants include Omar Shamudra and Dhrubo Barua from the Bengali Department, Isha De and Zashad Zakir from the Music Department, Rama Sain Marma from the Sports Science Department, Ahmed Mughdha and Naeem Shajan from the English Department, and Sumaiya Sikder from the Marketing Department.

Acting Chief Medical Officer of Chittagong University Medical Center, Dr Abu Tayeb, said, “Due to lack of food and water, the students are suffering from dehydration. They have been given saline and are under continuous medical supervision.”

The students are demanding that the university publish a full list of injured students and provide proper medical treatment, arrange quality temporary accommodation for non-resident students, recover belongings of displaced students, and ensure the safety of students identified as being at risk. 

They also want the actual perpetrators of past incidents to be brought to justice while preventing harassment of innocent locals, the formation of a joint committee to resolve conflicts with regular meetings, and the publication and implementation of a campus safety roadmap. 

Additionally, they have demanded a public apology from the Proctorial Body and its resignation for the incidents that caused student injuries.

University officials, including Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Dr Mohammad Shamim Uddin Khan, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Dr Kamal Uddin, and Student Advisor Dr Anwar Hossain, met the students to discuss these demands. 

They requested that the students participate in formal talks scheduled for Sunday. However, the students rejected this proposal, insisting on immediate dialogue.

What Pro VC says

Speaking to reporters after visiting the protesting students, Pro-Vice Chancellor Shamim Uddin Khan, said the incident that occurred at Chittagong University on 30 and 31 August prompted the urgent convening of a syndicate meeting, which issued 13 decisions. 

“We hope that if these 13 decisions are implemented, many of the university’s problems will be resolved.”

First, the university administration is covering all medical expenses for the students injured in this incident, he noted. 

“One student is receiving treatment in Dhaka, and the two in serious condition will be shifted to Dhaka within a day or two. The university has also made arrangements for food and accommodation for the accompanying guardians.”

Following this, two investigation committees have been formed: one is a judicial investigation commission, and the other is a university-led investigation committee, the Pro VC mentioned. 

“These have been established to take appropriate action against those involved in the incident. We hope that we will fully comply with the decisions resulting from the impartial observations of these investigation committees.”

He claimed that all demands of the students currently on hunger strike have almost entirely been met. 

“There is no demand that remains unaddressed. In the past, they have only demanded the resignation of the proctor. We have told them that on Sunday, we will sit together, and all issues, including the proctor’s accountability, will be resolved through discussion. Beyond this, we cannot comment, and we cannot speak on matters currently under investigation by the commission,” he said. 

The Pro VC continued, “I was told that if I went there, they would drink some water. But when I went in front of the media and journalists, I believe they did not break the hunger strike. Such a relationship between students and teachers should not exist.”

He mentioned that today, Chittagong University also hosted an international conference, attended by researchers from various foreign universities. “Such activities [hunger strike] are hindering these academic functions.”

“I request all students to focus on their studies and research. We seek the support of all students, teachers, and the nation to build Chittagong University as a model institution.”

What protesting students say

Mentioning the administration’s proposal for Sunday talks, protesting student Dhrubo told the media, “Our condition was that we could only discuss if they could give assurance that action would be taken against the proctor for past offenses.

“But the administration refuses to acknowledge any wrongdoing by the proctorial Body, even though the obvious offenders have repeatedly committed violations. They believe that the punishment for their offenses is non-negotiable,” he said. 

“Our position is that justice is non-negotiable. What is a crime is a crime, and there is nothing to negotiate about that,” Dhrubo added. 

On behalf of the students, he said as the administrator could not them this assurance and, they remain steadfast on their hunger strike.