KUET Crisis Continues: Stalled Classes and Standoff with Faculty Enter Third Day
Despite the resumption of academic activities after a 74-day closure, classes at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) remained suspended for the third consecutive day, as faculty members continue to abstain from teaching. Administrative and development activities on campus have also come to a standstill.
In response to the ongoing crisis, KUET’s interim Vice-Chancellor, Professor Md. Hazrat Ali, has held multiple meetings with faculty members, students, administrative officials, and staff. However, no effective resolution has yet been reached, leaving approximately 7,565 students in limbo amid worsening session backlogs.
A visit to the campus on Tuesday, May 6, revealed empty classrooms and a visibly inactive academic environment. Students refrained from attending classes as faculty members remained absent. Most residential students were seen inside their dormitories, while a few gathered in front of the halls or roamed the campus roads. Off-campus students have not returned, and police presence remains stationed at the main gate.
Registrar Engineer Anisur Rahman Bhuiyan and Director of Student Welfare Professor Abdullah Elias Akhtar confirmed that efforts are underway to resolve the impasse through dialogue. “The Vice-Chancellor is engaging in discussions with teachers and students to resolve the crisis,” said Professor Hazrat Ali.
However, the KUET Teachers’ Association maintains a firm stance. Association President Professor Dr. Md. Shahidul Islam stated, “Following the February 18 clash, a group of students physically assaulted around 10 to 15 teachers. Until those responsible are punished, we will not return to class or conduct exams.”
Echoing this sentiment, General Secretary of the Teachers’ Association, Professor Md. Faruq Hossain, added, “Despite our repeated calls for justice, the KUET administration has yet to take action. If no disciplinary measures are taken within seven days, we will also abstain from administrative duties.”
Meanwhile, students involved in the February 18 incident have issued public apologies on two separate occasions. Yet, faculty members remain firm in their boycott, prolonging uncertainty for thousands of students. KUET is already grappling with a session backlog of approximately 1.5 years, now exacerbated by the nearly three-month academic standstill.
Students Rahatul Islam, Md. Obaidullah, Sheikh Mujahid, Galib Rahat, and Toufiq expressed their frustration: “KUET already had a backlog of over a year. We've fallen another two and a half months behind. We’ve apologized for our mistakes—we just want things to return to normal.”
A KUET official, requesting anonymity, stated, “Everyone on campus—faculty, staff, and officers—are preoccupied with the ongoing crisis. As a result, many administrative decisions are on hold, and development projects have also stalled.”
It is worth noting that classes and examinations at KUET have been suspended since the violent altercation that occurred on February 18.
