Follow-up
Bhasani university students postpone fast unto death after assurance
The agitating students of food technology and nutritional science (FTNS) department at Maolana Bhasani University of Science and Technology (MBUST) postponed their fast unto death programme after 10 days yesterday.
The students put off their programme when the teachers of the university led by pro-vice-chancellor (pro-VC) Prof Moniruzzaman went to the students and assured them of taking steps in favour of their demand.
They said the university authorities would write to the education ministry, with positive recommendation, by today for forming a review committee to implement the students' demand for renaming their degree.
They also assured the FTNS students that the university authorities would withdraw all the cases and suspension orders against the students of the department.
Deputy commissioner (DC) of Tangail M Bazlul Karim Chowdhury, superintendent of police (SP) AKM Hafiz Akter, Tangail district Awami League general secretary Fazlur Rahman Faruque, civil surgeon Dr Abdul Baset, divisional forest officer Asit Ranjan Paul, additional superintendent of police Jamil Hasan, local political leaders and representatives of civil society were present.
However, a leader of the agitating students said they would resume the programme if the demands are not met as per the assurance.
Over 200 students of the department started a fast unto death programme at Shaheed Smrity Pouro Udyan in the town on May 14 for the second time to realise their demand for BSc (Engineering) degree in place of BSc (Honours) degree.
Around 60 of the fasting students of the department fell sick in the last few days and were admitted to Tangail General Hospital. Three of them have been sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) as their condition deteriorated.
Meanwhile, the guardians of the fasting students also threatened to join hunger strike to realise the demands of their wards.
The education ministry, in a handout, signed by its senior information officer Subodh Chandra, on Sunday expressed sympathy to the fasting FTNS students and urged them to withdraw their programme and return to classes.
The handout said no university has the authority to change any degree overriding the opinions of the experts concerned.
The ministry also sought cooperation of the guardians so that the students return to classes ending their fasting programme.
The students thanked the ministry for issuing the handout on the ninth day of their fast unto death programme. However, they rejected the 'so-called' experts' opinions submitted by the university authorities to the ministry terming those 'false and fabricated'.
The agitating students claimed that the ministry is hesitating to accept their logical demand, as the university, especially the VC, is not extending cooperation.
They also expressed their determination to continue their programme until the demands are met.
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