Govt issues notification removing KUET VC, Pro-VC

The government has issued a notification relieving the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohammad Mashud and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Prof Sk Shariful Alam from their duties.

The Ministry of Education issued the notification on Friday, April 25.

Earlier on April 23, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in a statement said the process to relieve the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of their duties have begun to resolve the ongoing crisis and resume academic activities without delay in KUET.

On the following day, the Ministry of Education said they both resigned from the respective posts.

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 50 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 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 on April 22, demanding the removal of the Vice-Chancellor.

AAH/MSU