Candidates defer self-immolation programme

The candidates of 27th BCS examinations who are now on a hunger strike yesterday deferred their self-immolation programme until Monday, as the Dhaka University authorities have assured them that they would negotiate with the Public Service Commission to resolve the issue.
The candidates who passed the exams at first but were dropped from the list of successful candidates as per fresh results had earlier announced that they would commit self-immolation on Friday if their demand for appointment goes unheeded.
A DU team, led by Vice Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz, went to the Central Shaheed Minar on Thursday night and expressed their sympathy to the BCS candidates who are now on hunger strike there.
The other members of the team are Prof Ahmed Kamal, Prof Harunur Rashid and Prof Sadrul Amin.
Over 1,130 candidates of the 27th BCS examinations who came out successful in the first results were shown unsuccessful in the second results, triggering the protest.
The DU team said the protesters are their children and they would like to talk with the government and the PSC authorities to find out a solution to the problem.
"We need three days to negotiate with the government and the PSC. Until then, don't go for any serious programme," Prof SMA Faiz told the candidates.
Prof Abul Barakat of Dhaka University also visited Shaheed Minar yesterday and expressed his solidarity with the protesters, saying that the government should take a fair decision in this regard.
"As of today (Friday), some 100 of the hunger strikers were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment," said Sarwar Mamun, one of the protesters.