Clashes Lead to Suspension of Academic Activities at KUET
Following clashes between the student wing of the BNP (Chhatra Dal) and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement over the demand to end student politics, the authorities of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) have announced the suspension of all academic activities.
In addition, residential students have been instructed to vacate their dormitories by 10 a.m. Wednesday. The announcement was made via a press release on Tuesday evening by Shahiduzzaman Sheikh, the public relations officer (additional charge) of KUET.
The press release stated that the decision was made for the overall security of the university. The notice was signed by the university’s registrar, Engineer Mohammad Anichur Rahman Bhuiyan. The decision was taken during the 99th emergency meeting of the university syndicate on Tuesday.
Earlier, in the afternoon, a group of students attempted to lock the residence of the vice-chancellor, demanding his resignation. The students were angered by the vice-chancellor’s return to his residence in Khulna from Dhaka the previous night. On Tuesday morning, they gave the vice-chancellor a deadline of 10:30 a.m. to leave his residence and announced that they would lock the doors again. However, after speaking with faculty members, the students did not proceed with the lock and left the residence.
The violent clashes between Chhatra Dal supporters and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on February 18 had resulted in over fifty students being injured.
Following the incident, on Wednesday evening, the university administration filed a case at Khan Jahan Ali police station against 400-500 unidentified individuals. Four leaders and activists from the BNP and its youth wing were arrested in the case.
On the day of the clashes, five individuals were detained by the military and handed over to the police, where they were kept in a prison cell and provided medical treatment. On Friday, four of them were formally arrested and sent to jail, according to the officer-in-charge of Khan Jahan Ali police station, Kabir Hossain.
