Teachers Take a Stand: KUET Protest Gains Support from University Academics
The University Teachers’ Network has voiced strong solidarity with the ongoing student protest at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), calling for the immediate withdrawal of the expulsion orders against 37 students. In a statement issued on Tuesday, April 22, the academic collective expressed grave concern over the administration’s handling of the recent unrest on campus.
According to the statement, “On February 18, KUET students were subjected to a brutal armed attack by members of the local Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal. The armed assault, orchestrated under the leadership of a political party in the aftermath of a popular uprising, and the passive inaction of the university administration during the attack, have deeply shocked us.”
The Teachers’ Network also condemned the response of political actors and the university authorities, stating, “Following the circulation of images and videos of the assault in mainstream and social media, one Jubo Dal leader was expelled from his organization after being seen wielding a sharp weapon during the attack. The superficial response by a political party that had once supported the public uprising has left us disheartened.”
The statement went on to accuse the KUET administration of filing a case against unidentified individuals, deliberately excluding the identified assailants. “The attack originated from resistance to banning partisan politics on campus. Instead of standing with the injured students and acknowledging their legitimate grievances, the university administration hastily closed the campus indefinitely and forced students out of the dormitories,” it said.
The Network further alleged that the administration failed to ensure necessary medical care for severely injured students and treated them as adversaries rather than offering parental guidance. “The Vice Chancellor denied administrative failure in handling the attack and, instead, claimed to have been harassed by students, subsequently collecting solidarity from vice chancellors of other universities,” the statement said.
“Moreover,” it continued, “a recent teachers’ human chain, apparently in support of the administration and joined by local leaders of a political party, reminded us of the subservient practices of authoritarian regimes. Despite the passage of two months, the identified attackers remain unpunished, while 42 students who were victims of the assault have been framed in what can only be described as farcical and false lawsuits initiated by local actors.”
The statement sharply criticized the expulsion of 37 students involved in the protests: “Rather than ensuring justice for the victims, the university authorities have punished those who were attacked. This is equivalent to letting the perpetrators go free while punishing the victims.”
The Teachers’ Network remarked that the recent actions at KUET run counter to the expectations that arose following the popular uprising. “It was hoped that the political and administrative practices of the autocratic era would end in post-uprising Bangladesh. Instead, what has unfolded at KUET is a complete reversal of those hopes. Rather than acknowledging students’ rightful grievances, the administration has resorted to a familiar culture of suppression through violence, legal intimidation, expulsions, and fear tactics.”
They further warned that, despite political changes brought on by the student-public uprising, the current trend seems to be toward depoliticization by banning student politics altogether, rather than addressing the root causes of political violence. “Although such moves may seem beneficial on the surface, they are ultimately detrimental to students’ interests,” the statement noted.
The statement also criticized the government's response to students' appeals. “Despite submitting their demands and positions in writing twice—once to the Chief Adviser’s office and again to the Ministry of Education—the government has continued to ignore the students' voices. This reflects a reckless approach by a government formed through a student-people uprising.”
Currently, KUET students are staging an indefinite hunger strike, demanding the resignation of the Vice Chancellor, who they accuse of failing to protect them. “The University Teachers’ Network is deeply concerned about the health and safety of the students and is angered by the administration’s unjust actions and behavior.”
In conclusion, the Network issued a set of demands aimed at resolving the crisis. These include: immediate acceptance of the students' rightful demands, withdrawal of the collective expulsion orders against the 37 students, dismissal of the harassment cases filed against protesting students, proper medical treatment and rehabilitation for the injured students, and prompt legal action against the identified assailants responsible for the violent attack.
