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Published : 16 May 2025, 03:21 AM
Protesters at Jagannath University have announced a "mass" hunger strike after two days of sit-in demonstrations, citing the interim government’s “unsatisfactory response” to their four-point charter of demands, including a call for increased budget allocation.
The hunger strike is set to begin on Friday, shortly after Jummah prayers, at the protest site near Kakrail Mosque intersection.
Former students are also expected to join the demonstrators, according to organisers.
The announcement came just before midnight on Thursday, following a day of complete campus shutdown.
It was made by Prof Md Rais Uddin, general secretary of the Jagannath University Teachers’ Association.
Speaking at a press conference from the protest site at Kakrail, he said: “The JnU family has reached a consensus—either our demands will be met, or we will die.
“Even after the second day, our demands have not been accepted. Our movement will continue until the demands are clearly granted.”
“Teachers will spend the night here with the students,” Rais added. “[On Friday], former students will also join us.
“Right after Jummah prayers, we will observe our mass hunger strike.”
Earlier in the afternoon, teachers and students declared a campus “shutdown” in a renewed push for their demands.
The latest announcement came after discussions between protest leaders and student representatives.
A day earlier, teachers and students had begun a protest march from their Old Dhaka campus towards the chief advisor’s residence, but were repeatedly blocked by police.
Demonstrators pushed through several police barricades before being halted again at the Kakrail Mosque intersection, where police used batons, stun grenades and tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
Protesters regrouped at the same location later in the afternoon and vowed to hold their ground until their demands were met.
Originally launched with three demands, the protest has since expanded to include a fourth: a call for investigation into the police attack on their procession and punishment for those responsible.
