Engineering Students Enter Endless Fast
Students from engineering colleges across Bangladesh have begun an indefinite hunger strike in front of the National Press Club, demanding the abolition of the dual affiliation structure with the Technical and Dhaka University systems and the establishment of an independent Bangladesh Institute of Engineering and Technology (BIT). Initially, ten protesters joined the strike, with numbers expected to rise daily.
Under the banner of the Engineering College Reform Movement, the students have been holding various demonstrations for the past three months. The movement is being led by students from Faridpur, Barishal, and Mymensingh Engineering Colleges, as well as the Technical Teachers Training College.
Following a series of blockades, human chains, and “March for Dhaka” programs, the hunger strike was declared on Sunday, August 10, at the main road beneath the Metro Rail Station adjacent to the National Press Club.
From the protest site, students said there is a severe shortage of modernized labs and classrooms, as well as staffing issues. They claimed there is no allocation for campus development, exam results are delayed, and semester and retake fees are charged at excessively high rates. Due to the lack of adequate housing facilities, students are facing severe hardship, and it takes more than six months to complete a semester.
They stated, “Addressing these crises with a one-point demand is the need of the hour. We will continue this hunger strike until our demands are met.”
