The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dhaka visited students staging an indefinite hunger strike at the Raju Memorial Sculpture on Friday night, as tensions escalated over a three-point charter of demands linked to the implementation of the “July Mass Uprising” verdict and a proposed referendum.
The visit took place at approximately 10:30 pm, when Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ABM Obaidul Islam arrived at the protest site accompanied by senior university officials, including the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr Sayma Haque Bidisha, Deans of multiple faculties, and senior administrative representatives.
Table of Contents
University Delegation at Protest Site
| Position | Official |
|---|---|
| Vice-Chancellor | Prof Dr ABM Obaidul Islam |
| Pro-VC (Administration) | Prof Dr Sayma Haque Bidisha |
| Arts Faculty Dean | Prof Abul Kalam Azad |
| Science Faculty Dean | Prof Dr Abdus Salam |
| Proctor | Prof Saifuddin Ahmed |
| IBS Professor | Prof Dr Mohammad Mohiuddin |
During discussions with the fasting students, the Vice-Chancellor urged them to end their hunger strike, assuring them that their demands would be formally communicated to the relevant government authorities. He emphasised that the matter was fundamentally political in nature and should therefore be resolved through parliamentary mechanisms rather than within the university campus.
He stated that while the university administration holds responsibility for the health and wellbeing of its students, it does not have the mandate to resolve constitutional or state-level political questions. He added that medical teams had already been deployed to monitor the condition of the protesting students and reiterated his appeal for them to suspend their fast.
“I have come here to ensure the wellbeing of my students and to take them home safely,” he reportedly told the protesters. “I will convey your messages to the government, but the final decision rests with them.”
However, the Vice-Chancellor’s appeal was firmly rejected by the fasting students.
Students Reject Appeal, Maintain Stance
Student representative Md Sadiq Munawar Munem, speaking at the site, accused the Vice-Chancellor of merely echoing governmental positions rather than engaging with the substance of their demands. He further claimed that the administration’s approach reflected indifference to their condition.
He stated that the students had taken a clear and irreversible position from the outset, declaring that the hunger strike would continue until their three-point demands were fully implemented.
“We have already decided that we will either fight or we will die. There will be no compromise on the referendum,” he said, reaffirming the group’s determination to continue the protest.
The students reiterated that they would not abandon the sit-in until formal action was taken on their demands, which they argue are linked to democratic accountability and political reform.
Political Figures Also Visit Protest Site
Prior to the Vice-Chancellor’s arrival, several political figures visited the protest location to express solidarity with the students. Among them were Members of Parliament Syed Zainul Abedin (Dhaka-4), Kamal Hossain (Dhaka-5), and Rashedul Islam Rashed (Sherpur-1), who voiced support for the demonstrators’ cause.
Their presence added a political dimension to an already sensitive situation unfolding at one of the university’s most symbolic public spaces.
Background of the Hunger Strike
The indefinite hunger strike began on Wednesday afternoon at approximately 3:30 pm. Three students initiated the protest: Md Sadiq Munawar Munem from the Department of International Relations (2023–24 session), Sakibur Rahman from Sociology (2024–25 session), and Sheikh Mostafiz, a student of Media, Communication and Journalism at North South University.
They are demanding implementation of a three-point charter linked to political and constitutional reforms, including recognition of the July movement’s outcomes and a referendum mechanism.
As the protest continues, concerns are mounting over the health of the fasting students, while the standoff between the administration and demonstrators remains unresolved.