KUET Campus Confrontation: Students Defy Closure with Planned Return
Defying university orders, students of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) have announced plans to re-enter their closed campus at 2:00 PM on Sunday, April 13. The declaration was made through the students’ official Facebook page, KUET-19. Expressing solidarity, students from Khulna University (KU) have also announced a “Long March to KUET” scheduled for the same day, as shared on several KU student-run social media platforms on Saturday night.
This development follows the filing of a court case against 22 KUET students, nearly two months after a violent clash on campus. A resident of Maheshwarpasha Uttar Bonikpara in Khulna, Md. Hochen Ali, filed the case with a metropolitan magistrate court, which has directed Khan Jahan Ali police to conduct an investigation. The accused include KUET students Omar Faruq, Zahidur, Obaidullah, Mohon, Galib Rahat, Tanvir Mahin, Raihan, Sheikh Mujahid, Sajjad Farhad, Himel, Shovon, Isha Ansari, Abu Hasan Khalid, Yasin Rowaan, Fazle Rabbi, Zahidul Islam Nayel, Safti Ansari, Abdur Rahim Mridha, Azmain Israq Arnob, Mujahid, Mahadi Hasan, and Abhi, along with 15–20 unidentified individuals.
In recent days, students have consistently declared via social media that they intend to re-enter the closed KUET campus and return to their dormitories peacefully. In response, the university administration has held multiple meetings, issued formal notices, communicated with administrative offices, and sent SMS messages to parents requesting they discourage students from returning. Authorities have also deployed a significant police presence at KUET’s main entrance and the IT Park gate to deter student entry.
Tensions remain high on campus.
Several students, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that the prolonged closure has disrupted their studies and eliminated income sources such as private tutoring. They accused the administration of orchestrating the case by using an outsider to incite legal action against them.
KUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Muhammad Mashud stated, “We have tried to convince both students and guardians that returning to the closed campus is not advisable. The matter has also been communicated to the Divisional Commissioner and Police Commissioner.”
Khulna Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (North) Abul Bashar Mohammad Atikur Rahman confirmed awareness of the situation. “Police have been deployed at two campus gates,” he said.
Meanwhile, the university has appointed Professor Md. Abdullah Elias Akhtar of the Physics Department as the new Director of Student Welfare, effective April 20. This appointment, signed by Registrar Engineer Md. Anisur Rahman Bhuiyan under the Vice-Chancellor’s directive, replaces Professor Dr. Mohammad Sultan Mahmud before the completion of his term.
Commenting on security measures, KUET’s Security Committee Chairman Professor Abu Yusuf clarified, “Security has been reinforced in view of the overall situation. The police deployment was not intended to block student entry. Students may enter the campus upon showing their ID cards. However, the dormitories remain closed, so residential facilities are unavailable.”
He added that police assistance was formally requested on April 11 to ensure overall campus security.
The unrest stems from a violent clash on February 18 between students and activists of the BNP and its student wing, Chhatra Dal, following demands to ban student politics. Over 100 students were injured. In response, on February 25, KUET authorities suspended all academic activities and closed residential halls until further notice.
