Protest continues at SUST despite administration's directive to vacate halls

Though the university administration had directed students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) to leave the halls by 3:00 pm today, they did not comply. They are continuing their protest, declaring that they will not leave the halls.

This morning, after a syndicate meeting, SUST authorities instructed the students to vacate the halls by 3:00 pm. Immediately following this directive, anger erupted among the students protesting for quota reform. In turn, they issued a statement requesting that the teachers and officials residing in the university quarters leave the campus by 3:00 pm, UNB reports.

At 2:00 pm, according to a previous announcement, a funeral prayer in absentia was held in front of the SUST gate in memory of the students killed in Tuesday's clashes. The students then held a protest rally. During this time, they chanted slogans such as "The hall does not belong to anyone's father; we will not leave the hall," "This campus is ours; we will not leave the campus," "We will not let our brother's blood go in vain."

Several protesting students said that the authorities announced the university's closure out of fear of the student movement's intensity. They do not accept this decision and will continue their protest from within the campus.

Meanwhile, from 4:00 pm, the protesting students began searching the university's halls, particularly the rooms controlled by the Chhatra League. During these searches, they seized several firearms, numerous local weapons, and empty liquor bottles from these rooms. They later handed these over to the university administration. The Chhatra League leaders were not present in the halls during the search.

Asadullah Al Galib, the coordinator of this movement at SUST, said, "We want a campus free from politics. We want a campus free from terrorism. The searches were conducted against terrorists."

He mentioned that Chhatra League leaders and activists fled the halls upon hearing of their arrival. He also mentioned that they identified the rooms from which weapons were recovered.

They demanded that the Prime Minister retract her remarks about the protesters. Those responsible for the killings, attacks, and tortures in the movement must be brought under the law, they said.

Professor Dr Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, the university proctor, said that some students have already left the halls. The rest are being persuaded to leave.