KUET Crisis Continues: Show-Cause Notices Issued to 37 Students Amidst Faculty Standoff
The Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) on Monday, May 12, issued show-cause notices to 37 students who were earlier temporarily suspended for allegedly harassing faculty members. The university authorities outlined seven charges in the notices, including the alleged misconduct towards teachers, and have asked the students to respond by 5 PM on May 15.
Professor Dr. Abdullah Elias Akhter, Director of Student Welfare at KUET, stated that the notices were issued based on the findings of an investigative committee formed during the syndicate meeting held on February 19.
Meanwhile, KUET faculty members continued to abstain from academic activities for the sixth consecutive day since the university reopened. They have maintained their stance of not holding classes or exams until disciplinary actions are enforced against those responsible for the harassment. Furthermore, faculty have warned that they will also withdraw from administrative duties if actions are not taken by Thursday.
Professor Dr. Md. Shahidul Islam, President of the KUET Teachers’ Association, said, “If our demands are fulfilled, we will hold a general meeting to decide the next course of action.”
Following the issuance of the notices, several students stated that the first seven among the 37 are affiliated with the student wing of a political party, while the rest are general students who had protested for the removal of the Vice-Chancellor. “The general students did not harass any teachers,” they added.
Classes and examinations have remained suspended at KUET since the clash on February 18. With no academic activity for over two months, more than 7,500 students are reportedly anxious about worsening session jams.
Earlier, in an emergency syndicate meeting on April 14, KUET authorities decided to temporarily suspend the 37 students implicated in the February 18–19 incidents and referred the matter to the university’s student disciplinary committee for further action. In response, the students launched a hunger strike demanding the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor. Despite a visit from the Prime Minister’s education advisor, the protest continued.
Subsequently, in its 102nd emergency meeting on April 23, the KUET syndicate decided to withdraw the suspension orders of the 37 students.
According to a notice signed by KUET Registrar Anisur Rahman Bhuiyan, the syndicate had earlier decided in its 101st meeting on April 14 to reopen academic activities from May 4 and residential halls from May 2. Prior to this, on April 13, students had staged demonstrations and sit-ins demanding the reopening of dormitories. After spending two nights under the open sky, they forcibly entered six male dormitories on April 15. Female students followed suit on April 22 by breaking the locks to Rokeya Hall. All residential halls are now occupied by students.
At a press briefing on April 23, the KUET Teachers’ Association reiterated that they would not accept the Vice-Chancellor’s removal unless those accused were proven innocent. Although academic activities formally resumed on May 4, faculty members have continued to boycott classes.
