Thirteen students of Dhaka University fell sick as well as several others were hospatlised after the third day of their hunger strike demanding deferment of polls to the two Dhaka city corporations slated for Jan 30.
Among the students Avidas Pritom, Arko Saha, Apurba Chakrabarty and Shukesh Debnath have been admitted to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
The other students are Tanvir Hasan Saikot, Jagannath Hall VP Utpol Biswas, JS Kajal Das, Sports Secretary Arnab Hore, Jayanta Das, Sabuj Kumar, Rabiul Awyal Rabi, Bhabatosh Chandra Roy and Dipto Saha.
The protesting students said three among them were fallen sick on Friday (Jan 17), the second day of the protest.
Jagannath Hall VP Utpol Biswas said that the students will continue the protests until Election Commission defers the voting date considering the Saraswati Puja.
The Election Commission (EC) announced the date on Dec 22 last year, triggering criticism and protests.
In Hinduism, Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge and learning, and the Puja is held at educational institutions. Polling stations will be set up at different educational institutions in the city during the polls, which, many fear will hamper the Saraswati Puja celebrations.
DU Vice-Chancellor Prof M Akhtaruzzman expressed solidarity with the students on Friday and said the students’ demand was logical.
“I urge the EC to defer the voting date considering the Saraswati Puja,” said Prof Akhtarruzzaman.
Meanwhile, the Chamber Judge is likely to hear an appeal challenging a High Court order the rejected a writ petition to defer the polls.