KUET Crisis Concludes: Prof. Hazrat Ali Appointed Acting VC

Six days after students’ months-long movement achieved success, Professor Md. Hazrat Ali has been appointed as the interim Vice-Chancellor of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET). The appointment was officially announced on Thursday, May 1, through a notification issued by the Scholarship and Engineering Branch of the Secondary and Higher Education Division under the Ministry of Education.

The order, issued with the approval of the President and Chancellor, cites sections 10(1) and 10(3) of the KUET Act 2003. Until a full-time Vice-Chancellor is appointed, Professor Md. Hazrat Ali will serve in the interim capacity.

According to the official gazette, “With the approval of the Hon’ble President and Chancellor, Professor Md. Hazrat Ali of the Department of Civil Engineering at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) has been appointed as the acting Vice-Chancellor of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, as per the provisions of the KUET Act, for the interim period prior to the appointment of a full-time Vice-Chancellor.”

The leadership reshuffle follows months of student protests sparked by a demand to end student politics on campus. The situation escalated into a violent clash on February 18, leaving over a hundred injured. Subsequently, the KUET syndicate decided to expel 37 students involved in the incident.

In protest, students intensified their demand for the resignation of KUET’s top administrative officials. Bowing to pressure from the sustained movement, the Ministry of Education on April 26 issued an official notification relieving Vice-Chancellor Muhammad Masud and Pro Vice-Chancellor Sheikh Shariful Alam of their duties.