Students call for hunger strike at a Quarantine centre in Hailakandi; MLA, administration intervenes

The AK High Madrasa Quarantine Center in Lala Tantu Natunbazar on Saturday stormed a controversy as more than 50 students announced a hunger strike over the delay in receiving the report of the swab tests.

They questioned why the corona test report of the Deoband returning students did not come within the stipulated time limit. As news of their movement spread in the area, the crowd outside the center began to grow.

Upon receiving the news, Magistrate Ruthi Salade, Dr. Zahidul Islam in-charge of Lala Primary Health Center, MLA Sujam Uddin Laskar, BDO A Hossain of Lala Block, APCC Secretary Dilwar Hossain Barabhuiyan along with police CRPF team reached the spot one by one. The administration and the health department asked the students to withdraw their movement. But the Deoband returnee students at the quarantine center raised counter questions and wanted to know why the students of Hailakandi district were not being released when the ones from Karimganj and Cachar districts were.

Quoting a statement of the health minister of Assam where he said the test-results will be declared faster, the students started protesting. They questioned why the report of their swab test was not coming within 72 hours. They alleged that the report had been deliberately withheld and they had been placed under house arrest.

Meanwhile, out of 54 people in the quarantine center, two have reported positive. Their question was how did only two reports reach the administration and the rest did not. 

However, dismissing the allegations of the students, Dr. Zahidul Islam said on behalf of the administration, the report is being delayed due to the small number of laboratories. He assured them that he would contact the district administration and make arrangements to bring their report sooner.

MLA Sujam Uddin Lashkar called on Ruthi Salade, the attached circle officer of Lala, to collect the swab test reports of the madrasa students at the quarantine center and make arrangements for their release. Magistrate Ruthi Salade, Dr. Zahidul Islam assured the protesting students that arrangements would be made for their immediate release by contacting the district administration and bringing their report.

MLA Sujam Uddin Lashkar, APCC Secretary Dilwar Hossain Barabhuia also called on the students to withdraw the movement on the assurance of the administration. The students withdrew their movement at 2.30 pm in the afternoon.