KUET Crisis Continues: Teachers Threaten Total Work Boycott Over Delayed Justice

Teachers at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) have announced their decision to refrain from administrative duties in addition to the ongoing boycott of academic activities. The KUET Teachers’ Association has declared that if the university administration fails to conclude disciplinary actions against those involved in a recent clash and the harassment of faculty members by 12:00 PM on Monday (May 19), they will suspend all forms of academic and administrative activities.

Earlier, the teachers held a meeting with the university’s Vice-Chancellor regarding their demands.

In a subsequent press briefing, Dr. Md. Faruk Hossain, on behalf of the KUET Teachers’ Association, said, “The university administration has suspended disciplinary proceedings against the culprits, going beyond legal procedures. As a result, KUET's academic environment has plunged into crisis. To protect the interests of a few students, the current administration is appeasing an invisible higher authority.”

He added that unless a satisfactory decision is made by Monday noon, the association will stage a sit-in protest at the Vice-Chancellor's office.

Meanwhile, KUET students have also announced plans to resume protests, demanding a roadmap for five specific demands, including the resumption of academic activities and the formation of a neutral investigation committee.

As part of their movement, students staged a sit-in on Thursday from noon to 5:00 PM at the protest platform set up in front of the university’s Welfare Centre. They are expected to announce new programs on Sunday.

Md. Rahatul Islam, a student of the 2020 batch in the Civil Engineering Department, said, “We will continue the movement until academic activities resume, the previously formed investigation committee is dissolved, and a new neutral committee is established, along with a roadmap to implement our five demands.”

The crisis at KUET traces back to February 18, when over 150 students were injured in an attack by external assailants, leading to a near-total shutdown of academic functions for nearly three months. Students launched a movement with five demands, including the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor. Eventually, the protest was focused on a single demand—the removal of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Masud. The government later relieved him from his duties.

According to the university syndicate's decision, academic activities were scheduled to resume on May 4. However, the Teachers’ Association leaders refused to return to classes until disciplinary action was taken against those responsible for harassing faculty members. On May 5, they issued a seven-working-day ultimatum, demanding justice and other reforms.

An internal investigation committee recommended punitive action against 37 students. However, the syndicate later withdrew this decision. Still, on Monday, the administration issued show-cause notices to the same 37 students, prompting renewed student anger and protest marches on campus.

On May 13, students met with the acting Vice-Chancellor, demanding the dissolution of the previous investigation committee and the formation of a new, impartial body.