KUET Students March to Dhaka Demanding Vice Chancellor's Resignation

Students from Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) embarked on a journey to Dhaka on Sunday morning, pressing forward with their six-point demand, which includes the removal and replacement of Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Muhammad Masood and Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Shariful Islam. The students are scheduled to meet the Chief Advisor at his residence after 11:00 AM to voice their concerns directly.

At 8:00 AM, around 80 students left the KUET campus in two buses, with red cloths tied around their heads as a symbol of protest. Prior to their departure, the students held a press briefing where they expressed their sense of insecurity on campus. "We feel unsafe here. We are heading to Dhaka to present our demands to the Chief Advisor and will relocate to a safer place afterward. Until campus security is ensured, we will not return and will continue our academic activities online," said one of the student representatives.

They further criticized university officials, stating, "The Vice Chancellor and some faculty are falsely claiming that our demands have been met. This is completely untrue."

The students alleged that despite clear evidence of the attackers, the university administration had filed cases against unidentified individuals, ignoring the actual perpetrators. "The KUET exhibition highlighted the armed attackers with their names, photos, and full details, yet no action has been taken against them. We suspect the KUET administration is complicit," they claimed.

Citing safety concerns, the students revealed that they had to fund their transportation themselves, as the university authorities refused assistance. "We couldn't even safely make it to the bus stand, so we brought the buses to campus. Since the authorities and government have turned their backs on us, we are leaving with red cloths over our eyes, symbolizing the shutdown of KUET. Until our demands are fulfilled, no academic or administrative activities will resume," declared the protesters.

The tension escalated following violent clashes on February 18, when students protested against the distribution of political forms by Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the BNP, defying KUET's ban on campus politics imposed during the 93rd emergency syndicate meeting on August 11, 2024. What began as a peaceful demonstration turned violent when Chhatra Dal supporters allegedly disrupted the rally, leading to attacks involving sharp weapons. Over 50 students were injured, many requiring hospitalization at Khulna Medical College Hospital, KUET Medical Center, and nearby clinics.

Despite the violence, the university administration was reportedly unable to ensure student safety during the four-hour-long attack. The students subsequently issued a letter to the Chief Advisor, detailing the events and reiterating their six-point demand, which includes the immediate resignation of the Vice Chancellor and Pro-Vice Chancellor.

In the aftermath, students locked the academic and administrative buildings on February 19 and placed the Vice Chancellor under virtual house arrest at the medical center from February 18 afternoon until his release the following evening. Ironically, while being confined, he still chaired an emergency syndicate meeting online on February 19.

The Youth Innovation Challenge continues to draw attention to deeper issues of campus safety, administrative accountability, and the broader question of student rights in politically charged environments. The students have made it clear that until their voices are heard and action is taken, KUET will remain at a standstill.