Sust students go on hunger strike

Twenty-four students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Sust) went on a "hunger strike until death" in front of the VC's residence yesterday demanding his resignation.

The students, including nine females, began the strike at 2:50pm as Vice Chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed did not step down by noon despite students' ultimatum.

Speaking at a press briefing, a spokesperson of protesters said Farid Uddin lost his credibility as the VC as he ordered police action against students on Sunday.

The incident left 30-40 students injured.

"We issued an ultimatum to the VC asking him to resign by this noon, but he did not comply. He is lying about the protest and he has no sensitivity towards the students. Now we will continue the hunger strike until death. Either the VC will step down or we will die."

Meanwhile, a group of Sust teachers formed a human chain in front of the main entrance to the university around noon, protesting "indecent remarks" about teachers by "anti-VC students".

Prof Laila Ashrafun of social science department alleged that the protesting students were making "indecent comments" about teachers on social media.

However, Sust Teachers Association President Dr Tulsi Kumar Das said the association has no links with the protest.

On Thursday, students of Begum Sirajunnessa Chowdhury Hall launched a protest over allegations that Provost Zafrin Ahmed Liza misbehaved with a student who called her to report mismanagement at the dormitory.

The demand for the VC's resignation was raised after students were injured as police used truncheons on them, fired rubber bullets and sound grenades on Sunday evening to free the VC from confinement to his office.