|
| AASU activists stage the fast in Bilasipara on Wednesday. Telegraph picture |
Dhubri, Oct. 17: Activists of the Bilasipara subdivisional unit of AASU launched a fast-unto-death from today in Bilasipara town, demanding opening of schools that are housing the riot-hit people of BTAD in Dhubri district.
Ten AASU activists, including president of Bilasipara subdivisional unit Naba Kumar Roy, started the fast-unto-death near Bilasipara Gandhi Chowk this morning.
The adviser of AASU Bilasipara unit, Zakir Hussain, said they were compelled to take the extreme step as the government had not responded to their earlier protests. They said they had submitted memoranda, staged road blockades and organised token hunger strikes earlier.
“But there has been no response to our protests. The government is absolutely silent over shifting camp inmates elsewhere and reopening schools,” he said.
Hussain said they were protesting peacefully but would not break their fast until education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma comes to Bilasipara and assures them about opening of schools.
Residents of Bilasipara have staged several protests to demand opening of schools.
Students of schools housing riot victims had also protested by holding classes on JP Road in the town on October 10.
Nearly a thousand students of Rokakhata High School, Indra Narayan Academy Higher Secondary School, Bilasipara Public High School, Bilasipara Town High School and Pub Bilasipara Girls High School had held classes on the road to register their protest and demand opening of the schools immediately.
For the last three months, regular classes could not be held in over 170 schools in the district resulting in a total loss of an academic year for over 60,000 students, including those in the camps.
| 
