KUET Crisis: Vice-Chancellor and Pro Vice-Chancellor Vacated
In the face of ongoing student protests, the Ministry of Education has issued a notification relieving the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) from their duties. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Muhammad Masud and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Sheikh Shariful Alam have been released from their administrative roles and will return to their respective departments. The notification was issued on Friday (April 25).
Signed by Senior Assistant Secretary A. S. M. Kasem of the Scholarship and Engineering Branch of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, the notification stated that, "With the approval of the President and Chancellor, under Section 10(2) of the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology Act, 2003, the appointment of Professor Dr. Muhammad Masud as Vice-Chancellor is hereby withdrawn, and he is released from his post to return to his department. This order is issued in the public interest."
Similarly, regarding the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, the notification stated, "With the approval of the President and Chancellor, under Section 12(2) of the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology Act, 2003, the appointment of Professor Dr. Sheikh Shariful Alam as Pro-Vice-Chancellor is hereby withdrawn, and he is released from his post to return to his department."
Earlier, on Wednesday (April 23) at around 1:00 AM, a press release issued by Md. Mamun-or-Rashid, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, mentioned that, "In light of recent events at KUET and to resolve the emerging crisis and resume academic activities promptly, the process of relieving the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor from their duties has commenced. A search committee will soon be formed to appoint new officials to these positions."
The following day, Thursday (April 24), officials from the Scholarship and Engineering Branch of the Ministry of Education reported that the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of KUET had tendered their resignations. They stated that once the President and Chancellor accepted their resignations, new appointments would be made for the two posts.
Reacting to this move, the KUET Teachers' Association described the step as "a defeat of justice." They also announced that classes would remain boycotted until a proper investigation was conducted into the recent clashes and the culprits were duly punished. Following a meeting of its executive committee, General Secretary Professor Faruq Hossain said, "If such activities continue in educational institutions even after the glorious July Uprising of '24, it could dismantle not only the universities but also the entire state discipline of Bangladesh. However, the teachers will always strive to restore a healthy academic environment at KUET."
On the same day, KUET’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor claimed that he had not resigned. Rather, he stated that he had sent a letter to the Education Advisor requesting not to be relieved from his duties. In the letter, he portrayed himself as a supporter of the '24 Uprising. However, even this effort could not save his position, and both the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor were ultimately removed.
Meanwhile, the confusion that arose after A. S. M. Kasem, the Senior Assistant Secretary of the Science and Technology Universities Branch of the Ministry responsible for appointments of Vice-Chancellors, Pro-Vice-Chancellors, and Treasurers, remarked that “the process of relieving them has not yet been completed,” was finally dispelled with the issuance of Friday’s notification.
