Students unite in grief and anger at Noakhali Science and Technology University following the death of a classmate

In a poignant display of grief and anger, students at Noakhali Science and Technology University gathered late Wednesday night to protest the tragic death of their classmate, Mustafa Tarek, affectionately known as Siam.

The 22-year-old student from the Educational Administration Department passed away following what many students believe was inadequate medical assistance.

The situation unfolded after Siam went swimming in a campus pond with friends after an afternoon football match.

Feeling unwell upon returning to his dormitory, he was quickly taken to the university’s medical center.

 However, the medical staff informed his friends that the ambulance was out of service and had been sent to Dhaka for repairs.

Desperate to get help, they hired a microbus to transport him to a nearby private hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead upon arrival.

Siam’s body was brought back to campus around 9:30 PM, and a somber atmosphere enveloped the area as students gathered, many shedding tears and embracing one another in mourning.

In the midst of their sorrow, students voiced their frustrations, blaming the medical center for negligence and criticizing the transport department for failing to provide timely assistance.

They claimed that the lack of oxygen and delays in getting Siam to a hospital played a crucial role in his untimely death.

By 10 PM, students from various dormitories began to organize and march through the campus, ultimately converging at the Central Shahid Minar.

There, they presented six demands to the university administration, including calls for accountability from both the medical center and transport department, as well as full compensation for Siam’s family.

The students expressed a strong desire for systemic change, insisting on improved medical facilities with three emergency ambulances and two MBBS doctors available at all times.

They also called for first aid kits and fire extinguishers to be placed in every dormitory and demanded public accountability from those responsible for Siam‍‍`s care, along with a formal apology and legal action.

Their voices echoed through the night as they maintained a vigil at the Shahid Minar, seeking to ensure their demands were heard.

As the night wore on, university officials, including the proctor and senior faculty members, arrived to engage with the students.

They offered reassurance that the administration would address their concerns in a scheduled meeting for Thursday morning.

Proctor Arifur Rahman shared with Prothom Alo that the students’ protests were a direct response to the tragedy of Siam’s death from a cardiac arrest.

He emphasized the importance of dialogue, stating that discussions with the students had led to promises of addressing their demands, which helped to ease tensions.

As of Thursday morning, a meeting between university officials, including the vice-chancellor, and the students was underway.

The administration is committed to addressing the students’ concerns and working to enhance health and safety protocols on campus to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.