5 ex-SUST students granted bail

Some 24 students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) observe hunger strike in front of the vice chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed's residence demanding his resignation. The picture was taken on 19 January.Anis Mahmud

A Sylhet court on Wednesday granted bail to five former students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) who were arrested from Dhaka on charge of sending money to the protesting students at the university.

Sylhet metropolitan magistrate Md Sumon Bhuiyan granted the bail in the evening, said BM Ashraf Ullah Taher, additional deputy commissioner (Media) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP).

Those granted bail are Reza Nur Moin, 31, son of Moin Uddin of Bogura district, Habibur Rahman, 26, son of Matier Rahman Khan, Nazmul Sakib, 32, son of Mizanur Rahman of Khulna district, AKM Maruf Hossain, 28, son of Mosharraf of Mirpur in Dhaka and Foysal Ahmed, 27, son of Sadiqul Islam.

Among them, Nazmul Shakib is undergoing treatment at Shaheed Shamsuddin Hospital in Sylhet as he tested positive for Covid-19.

The case was filed against them at Jalalabad police station on Tuesday night after their arrest from different areas of Dhaka on Monday and Tuesday.

Meanwhile, over two dozens of students of SUST who went on fast unto death last Wednesday ended their hunger strike on Wednesday.

The students embarked on fast-unto-death on the university campus on January 19, demanding the resignation of SUST Vice-Chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed over police crackdown on their fellows.

Around 10.20am on Wednesday, the students broke their fast after former SUST Professor Muhammad Zafar Iqbal gave them water to drink.

The eminent writer and his wife Yesmeen Huq, also a former SUST teacher, came to the university in Sylhet from Dhaka around 4am and met the protesting students.

Prof Zafar also condemned the arrest of five alumni of SUST for allegedly sending money to the protesters at the university.