20 DU students go on hunger strike over Dhaka city polls

Some 20 students of Dhaka University (DU) went on a hunger strike on the campus on Thursday afternoon demanding deferment of the polls to two Dhaka city corporations slated for 30 January, reports news agency UNB.

The students, led by Jagannath Hall Students’ Union vice president Utpal Biswas and general secretary Kajal Das, gathered in front of the Raju Memorial Sculpture on the campus carrying placards and started the hunger strike around 2:10pm.

Utpal said it was a matter of sorrow that the election commission set 30 January, the day of Saraswati Puja, for holding polls to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). “It didn’t pay any heed to the demand of different social and religious organisations to change the date.”

He also threatened to continue the protest until their demand is met.

Kajal Das said they think the EC’s decision to hold voting on the day of puja is unconstitutional. “We condemn it and hope that the Commission will change their decision.”