At least fifteen nursing students fell ill during a symbolic "poison-drinking" protest organized by Nursing Faculty students of Rajshahi Medical University (RMU) on Saturday.
The protest, held at Saheb Bazar Zero Point in Rajshahi around 12:30 PM, was staged to express frustration over delay in exams and other grievances. Four students reportedly became ill due to the intense heat.
Students from 23 different institutions, including four government and 19 private nursing colleges affiliated with RMU, participated in the protest. The participating colleges included Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Lalmonirhat government nursing colleges, and several private institutions in Bogura, Sirajganj, and other areas.
The students have been demonstrating since Wednesday, initially demanding the immediate scheduling of their delayed final exams for 2019-2020 session. However, their demands have expanded to seven points, addressing issues such as exam delays, session jams, and alleged administrative mismanagement.
Their demands included, appointment of a new RMU Vice-Chancellor or an official to oversee their exams within two working days, coordination with exam committees to ensure results are published by September 30, assurance that internships at hospitals will begin on October 1, the cessation of excessive fees charged by private colleges for exam registration, a reduction in the result challenge fee from BDT 5,000 to BDT 1,000 per subject, facilitation of internships for private nursing college students at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, removal and investigation of 12 suspected officials responsible for session jams and exam delays.
The students stated that the final exams for B.Sc. in Nursing course were scheduled for Saturday (September 7), but were abruptly canceled, leaving them nine months behind their academic schedule. Nearly 3,000 nursing students from 23 colleges are affected by the delays, with no clear indication of when the exams will be rescheduled.
During the protest, the students held a "symbolic exam" and staged a "symbolic poison-drinking" demonstration after receiving news that the exams had been postponed again. Some students accused the authorities of intentionally failing them, intensifying their frustrations.
The Vice-Chancellor and exam controllers at RMU have yet to comment, as they recently resigned amid growing pressure from students.
