KUET Students Protest Hall Closure: Clash of Claims and Consequences

On Tuesday night (February 25), students of Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) held a protest march in opposition to the indefinite closure of the university’s residential halls. During the protest, they declared that they would not vacate the halls. Consequently, by Wednesday (February 26) afternoon, most students continued to stay in the halls.

Sources indicate that after the Syndicate meeting on Tuesday, the university announced that the halls should be vacated, prompting many general students to begin leaving the dormitories from noon. However, a portion of the students remained, and as of 12 pm, they had not vacated the premises.

The students have stated, "After the July Revolution, KUET is the first university to order the evacuation of its halls. But today, they are firm in their stance: they will not leave. If they are to vacate, it will have to be done over their blood, with the police and army involved."

Additionally, the students claimed that they are under various pressures aimed at suppressing and diverting their movement. They are resolute in their six-point demands, asserting that every one of them must be met.

The students further added, "Among the 150 people injured during the attack, the KUET administration has not once inquired about their well-being. The administration has not stood by the students." In a related development, the university administration announced on Tuesday evening that all academic activities would be suspended.

According to Shahiduzzaman Sheikh, the Public Relations Officer (Additional Charge) of KUET’s Information and Publication Department, the students were instructed to vacate the residential halls by 10 am on Wednesday.