Ilias Kanchan, the chairman of Nirpad Sarak Chai (NISCHA) and a well-known actor, played a crucial role in persuading job seekers to end their hunger strike at Shahbagh.
The protesters had been demanding the issuance of a notification regarding the age limit for government jobs, based on a committee`s recommendations. Recognizing the protesters` physical condition and the current national circumstances, they agreed to leave the site at Kanchan`s request.
Around 3:30 PM on Wednesday, Ilias Kanchan visited the protest area near the National Museum and urged the demonstrators to conclude their hunger strike. He noted that the government is currently navigating a fragile phase and expressed hope that the protesters would keep open lines of communication with the authorities. "I will also advocate for this issue from my position," he added.
Mohammad Harun, one of the movement`s organizers, stated, “We have vacated Shahbagh at Ilias Kanchan’s request. Moving forward, we will evaluate the situation and organize a larger rally to demand the swift issuance of a notification for the 35-year age limit. We trust that the interim government will act quickly to meet our demands before that rally.”
The protesters had staged a continuous sit-in for six hours, demanding that the age limit for government jobs be raised to 35 years. They announced their hunger strike at 6 PM on Monday and had been fasting for approximately 45 hours.
Job seekers have long advocated for an increase in the age limit for government employment. In response, the interim government formed a committee on September 30 to review the proposal. On October 14, Chowdhury announced that the committee recommended raising the maximum age limit for government job applicants to 35 years for men and 37 years for women. However, the final decision will ultimately rest with the government.
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