hunger strike
BNP starts hunger strike seeking Khaleda’s treatment abroad
BNP started a seven-hour mass hunger strike programme in the capital on Saturday morning demanding that its ‘critically ill’ chairperson Khaleda Zia be allowed to go abroad for advanced treatment.
As part of a countrywide programme, hundreds of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies began the hunger strike in front of their Nayapaltan central office at 9am.
Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir formally inaugurated the programme.
He urged all to observe the programme till 4pm in a peaceful manner with due respect maintaining discipline.
On Thursday, Mirza Fakhrul announced the programme at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Fakhrul said the programme will also be observed in all metropolitan cities and district towns.
“Khaleda Zia is fighting a battle between life and death. She’s the most beloved leader of the people of Bangladesh. It’s inhumane that she won’t be given a scope to receive treatment abroad,” he said.
Read: No legal scope for Khaleda to go abroad: Law Minister
Meanwhile, at a discussion programme on Friday, Fakhrul accused the government of plotting to end the life of Khaleda Zia by not allowing her to receive advanced treatment abroad.
He also said they will come up with more action programmes after observing the mass-hunger strike today.
RUB haircut humiliation: Students on indefinite hunger strike demanding termination of accused teacher
Protesting students of Rabindra University Bangladesh went into an indefinite hunger strike from Friday night as the syndicate committee didn’t permanently suspend the teacher who forcefully cut the hair of 14 students.
Nazmul Hasan Papon, spokesperson for the students told journalists on Saturday that the probe committee had submitted the report to Registrar Sohrab Ali on Thursday evening without the disposition of accused teacher of the Cultural Heritage and Bangladesh Studies Department, Farhana Yasmin Baten.
Followed by this, the syndicate committee held a meeting at the residence building office of the university on Friday afternoon, he said.
However it was adjourned without any decision on the incident, he said.
“When we contacted the treasurer and incumbent VC Abdul Latif, he said a decision will be taken in this regard at the next syndicate meeting. But he couldn’t give an exact date for the meeting,” said Najmul Hossain.
This has forced the students to take position for an indefinite hunger strike at the RUB campus on Friday night and they decided to continue the protest until Professor Baten got terminated, he said.
Read: RUB haircuts probe: Farhana gets till Oct 21 to give her side
Meanwhile, Treasurer Abdul Latif said the meeting was adjourned without a decision as the committee didn’t receive all the information.
“A decision will be made following the legal procedures in the next syndicate meeting,” he said.
On September 26, Farhana instructed an office assistant to trim the hair of 14 first-year students as they were entering examination halls, apparently for ignoring her previous instructions to get haircuts.
Unable to bear the humiliation, Nazmul Hasan Tuhin, 25, a student of the department, consumed sleeping pills the following day in an attempt to take his own life.
Although she submitted her resignation as department chair, assistant proctor, and member of the proctorial board, Farhana has continued to deny the allegations and claimed the charges against her were all fabricated, as she rejected the request of a few students to defer the exam.
On September 30, the RUB students staged protests demanding the termination of the teacher.
Read: Haircut humiliation: Rabindra University suspends teacher Farhana
The following day, the High Court asked the RUB VC and registrar to take steps against those involved in the incident and to file a report within a month.
Later in the day, the RUB authorities suspended Farhana from her teaching position as well.
On October 2, following assurance by Education Minister Dipu Moni of launching a probe into the incident, students eased their protest and unlocked the administrative building of the university.
RUB authorities formed a five-member committee led by Professor Layla Ferdous Himel to probe the incident.
Raihan’s family ends hunger strike on SCC mayor’s assurance
The family members of Raihan Ahmed ended their hunger strike on Sunday afternoon after Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury told them that he would talk to the authorities concerned to ensure the accused are arrested.
DU student falls sick on 3rd day of hunger strike protesting rape
A female student of Dhaka University who started fast-unto-death on Thursday demanding the arrest of former Ducsu (Dhaka University Central Students Union) vice-president Nurul Haque Nur and five others in a rape case fell sick on Saturday.
Chattogram Sampan boatmen on day-long hunger strike
Hundreds of boatmen of Shampan, a long sea boat in with a triangular mast, in Chattogram started a day-long hunger strike in Karnaphuli area protesting against the city corporation’s decision to not to provide lease to professional Sampan boatmen.
Khulna jute mill workers start receiving arrears
Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) started clearing the dues of the workers of state-owned jute mills in Khulna region following their hunger strike.
DU student on hunger strike protesting against BCL assault
A Dhaka University (DU) student, allegedly beaten up by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists on suspicion of being a member of Islami Chhatra Shibir, started a hunger strike Wednesday protesting against the assault.
Dhaka City Polls: 5 more protesting DU students fall sick
Five more students of Dhaka University fell sick on the third day of their fast unto death demanding deferment of polls to the two Dhaka city corporations slated for January 30.
Dhaka City Polls: 10 DU students fall sick during hunger strike
At least 10 students of Dhaka University fell sick on the second day of their fast unto death on Friday afternoon demanding deferment of the polls to the two Dhaka city corporations slated for January 30.
20 DU students go on hunger strike demanding polls deferment
Some 20 students of Dhaka University (DU) went on a hunger strike on the campus on Thursday afternoon demanding deferment of the polls to the two Dhaka city corporations slated for January 30.