Ruqayyah Hall girls withdraw hunger strike

Five female students of Dhaka University's Ruqayyah Hall who went on a fast unto death over their four-point demand withdrew their strike on Thursday night, threatening to resume it if their demands are not met by one day, reports UNB.

The five students -- Saida Afrin Safi, Rafia Sultana, Srabani Shafique Dipti, Joyonti Reza and Pramik Esha -- called off their hunger strike around 10:00pm following discussions with DU proctor professor AKM Golam Rabbani, Ruqayyah Hall provost professor Zeenat Huda, DUCSU VP-elect Nurul Haq, BCL general secretary Golam Rabbani and its DU unit general secretary Md Saddam Hussain.

"We've given them (DU authorities) a one-day ultimatum to meet our four-point demand after they requested us to go back to the hall, and promised to discuss our demands," said Dipti.

On Wednesday night, they began a fast unto death demanding the resignation of Ruqayyah Hall provost Zeenat Huda, fresh polls to DUCSU and hall unions, ensuring security of the protesting girls and withdrawal of all cases filed against the independent candidates and their supporters, including the DUCSU VP-elect.

Meanwhile, four candidates of the opposition panel along with a general student who began a hunger strike at the Raju Sculpture on the campus on Tuesday afternoon demanding fresh election to the DUCSU continued their strike.