Education minister proposes talks with SUST students

Education Minister Dipu Moni has proposed holding talks with the students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) agitating for resignation of the university vice-chancellor.

The minister proposed that representatives of the protesting students hold talks with her coming to Dhaka.

The students initially agreed to the proposal, but later they said that the education minister would have to come to Sylhet, though they also agreed to hold the talks virtually.

Meanwhile, till Friday evening, 12 protesters, staging a fast unto death in front of VC Farid Uddin Ahmed's residence on campus demanding his resignation, were hospitalised after they became seriously ill.

The education minister talked to the students over mobile phone on Friday afternoon.

Dipu Moni told the students, "We do not want our children to suffer. I see that you are suffering there, and there are other problems too."

She said, "The university is an autonomous institution and we do not want to interfere with it. However, we do not want students to suffer either. There is a solution to any problem and this ongoing problem also has a solution. We have to find that solution through discussion."

"If a group of 4/5 students came, along with the leaders of the teachers' association, we would be able to reach a solution through talks," she added.

The minister said, "You should come to talk after discussing among yourselves, so that there is no trouble among yourselves later."

Sadia Afrin, on behalf of the agitating students, said, "We are interested in the proposed talks with the education minister. Before evening, five of our representatives will go to the minister in Dhaka. We will discuss and select five delegates in a while. Hopefully, the minister will accept our demands."

"Even if we join the talks with the education minister, our fast unto death will continue," she said.

However, Sadia changed her mind in the evening, and said, "We cannot leave suffering protesters who are taking part in the fast unto death programme and go to Dhaka. We are interested in discussions with the education minister, but she will have to come to Sylhet, though we also agree to hold the talks virtually."

Earlier, Awami League Organising Secretary Shafiul Alam Nadel, Sylhet district Awami League Vice-President Ashfaq, metropolitan Awami League General Secretary, Professor Zakir Hossain, and some other leaders went to campus around 1.30 pm on Friday. They talked to students.

After discussions with the students, the Awami League leaders went to the residence of Vice Chancellor Farid Uddin to talk to him.

Coming out of the VC's residence, Shafiul Alam told the media, "This stalemate cannot continue for long. We cannot accept this suffering of our children. I came here with the message of the education minister and will try to find a solution through discussions with both the parties."

He said the VC also expressed interest in meeting with the protesters.

After the Awami League leaders returned from the VC's residence, the protestors spoke to the education minister on Shafiul Alam's mobile phone at 3pm.

Regarding the students' change of mind, Shafiul Alam told The Business Standard in the evening, "I am trying to organise talks between the education minister and the students."

Mohaiminul Bashar, an agitating student, said, "Our only demand is the resignation of the vice-chancellor. If this demand is not met, we will not stop our protest movement. If necessary, we will die."

Meanwhile, the number of sick students taking part in the hunger strike is increasing due to starvation and severe cold on the streets at night. Until Friday evening, 12 students have been admitted to hospital. Eleven students who are still on hunger strike in front of the VC's residence are being administered saline.

The students admitted to the hospital are also continuing their hunger strike there. One of them is said to be at risk due to diabetes, according to the doctors of Sylhet MAG Osmani Hospital where most of them were admitted.

Jahidul Islam Apurba, a student on hunger strike, said, "I will not break the fast unto death without realisation of my demand."

Twenty-four SUST students started a hunger strike last Wednesday, demanding the VC's resignation. One of them left the strike for home after his father had a heart attack. Now 11 students are still on hunger strike and their physical condition is also deteriorating.

An Osmani Medical College Chhatra League team is providing medical services to the starving students. Nazmul Islam, a member of the group, said: "The protestors are suffering mainly due to the severe cold. Many of them are suffering from shortness of breath, some are suffering from fever, while dehydration is also a major problem."

Kajal Das, a student on hunger strike at Ragib Rabeya Medical College Hospital in the city, said, "I was admitted here on Thursday afternoon. However, I have not broken my fast and I will continue my hunger strike until the VC resigns."

Meanwhile, the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers' Association (FBUTA) has expressed concern about the recent incidents at SUST.

"We do not think the resignation of the vice chancellor of SUST is the only way to solve the problem. Rather, it could worsen the situation," reads a press release published by the association.

"The current vice chancellor has taken many important steps in the development of SUST and its students. Questions have arisen in people's minds about the intentions behind turning a settled issue into a movement to remove the VC," added the statement.

This might be part of an ongoing conspiracy to destabilise the country by using students to disrupt the peaceful environment prevailing at all the universities of Bangladesh, it added.

"We urge the authorities concerned-- including the intelligence agencies of the government -- to look into the matter seriously. At the same time, we are urging the authorities of SUST to bring back the learning environment by accepting all the logical demands of the students," the release reads.