Summary:
- Students at Government Titumir College continue a hunger strike demanding the institution’s upgrade to a university and improved facilities like hostels and academic buildings.
- Protesters lifted an overnight road blockade at 4:00 AM to reduce public inconvenience but resumed demonstrations with 10 students on hunger strike and 20 stationed at the college gate.
- The college principal expressed solidarity with the protesters, relaying support through a messenger, while two students were hospitalized due to deteriorating health.
- Students warn of escalating actions, including a potential rail blockade at Mohakhali, if their demands remain unaddressed, with 35,000 students prepared to mobilize further.
Students of Government Titumir College in Mohakhali, Dhaka, are persisting with their hunger strike as of Friday morning, January 31, 2025, demanding the institution’s upgrade to a university and the establishment of essential facilities such as student residences and academic buildings. The protest comes as part of a broader movement to address longstanding grievances regarding the college’s infrastructure and status.
The demonstrators had blocked the road in front of the college throughout the previous night but lifted the blockade around 4:00 a.m. to alleviate public suffering, according to Ali Ahmed, one of the protesters. However, the hunger strike continues, with around 20 students stationed at the college gate and 10 actively participating in the strike.
Ali Ahmed stated that the college principal had expressed solidarity with the students through a messenger. “The principal conveyed that he stands with us,” he said.
The students have outlined seven key demands, with their primary focus being the transformation of Titumir College into a full-fledged university. Md Mehedi Hasan, a student from the accounting department, reported an increase in participation in the hunger strike. “Yesterday, five students were on hunger strike; today, it’s 10. Two have already been hospitalized,” he noted.
When asked about future actions if their demands remain unmet, Mehedi emphasized the significance of hunger strikes as a form of protest but hinted at broader measures. “If necessary, all 35,000 students will decide what to do next,” he said, adding that a blockade at the Mohakhali rail line is also under consideration.
The protest began on Thursday morning around 11:30 a.m., causing severe traffic congestion between Mohakhali and Gulshan-1 and affecting adjacent areas. The disruption highlighted the scale of public impact caused by the demonstration.
While the blockade has been temporarily lifted, the hunger strike underscores the students’ determination to press for institutional changes. It remains unclear how authorities will respond to these escalating demands.
Source: The Daily Star
