Govt initiates process to relieve KUET VC, Pro-VC

Amid continuous hunger strikes by students, the process to relieve Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Mashud and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr SK Shariful Alam of their duties has officially begun.

The development was announced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, citing the Ministry of Education, around 1:00 AM on Thursday, April 23.

In a press release issued by Md Mamun-or-Rashid, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, it was stated that, in light of recent events at KUET, steps have been initiated to relieve the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of their duties to resolve the ongoing crisis and resume academic activities without delay.

A search committee will be formed promptly to appoint successors for both positions.

Additionally, to ensure the regular functioning of the university during this period, a senior professor will be temporarily assigned the responsibilities of Vice-Chancellor, as per the Ministry of Education.

On February 18, more than fifty people were injured in a violent clash between activists of the Chhatra Dal and Juba Dal, local residents, and students at KUET, amid disputes over demands to ban student politics. Following the incident, the academic council declared the suspension of all academic activities and the closure of residential halls for an indefinite period during a syndicate meeting held on February 25.

Defying the administration’s directive, students re-entered the closed KUET campus on April 13.

Subsequently, at the 101st emergency syndicate meeting held on the night of April 14, university authorities temporarily suspended 37 students in connection with the February 18 and 19 violence at KUET.

In response to these incidents, 29 protesting students began a hunger strike unto death at 4:00 pm on April 22, demanding the removal of the Vice-Chancellor.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday afternoon, Education Adviser Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar visited the protest site in an attempt to persuade the students to end their hunger strike, but his efforts were unsuccessful. Students from other universities, including those in Dhaka and Rajshahi, also staged protest rallies and issued ultimatums demanding the Vice-Chancellor’s removal.