KUET Chaos Continues: Two Students Attacked Near Campus
Two students of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) were assaulted by unidentified assailants on Tuesday afternoon. The injured students were rescued and admitted to Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) for treatment.
The victims have been identified as Safwan Ahmed Ifaz (22), a second-year student of the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, and Mohammad Alsat Rajim (22), a second-year student of Energy Science and Engineering. Ifaz is the son of Mohsin Jamaddar from the Molla Para area of Tutpara in Khulna city.
The incident occurred around 4:00 PM near the Niribili Restaurant on KUET Road. According to hospital sources, both students were standing near the restaurant when several attackers suddenly launched an assault. Ifaz sustained a wound to his left arm from a sharp weapon, while Rajim was injured after being punched and beaten.
Safwan Ahmed Ifaz said, “We do not know the people who attacked us. We have no idea why they did this to us.”
Officer-in-Charge of Khanjahan Ali Police Station, Kabir Hossain, said, “We have received reports of such an incident, but we cannot confirm the exact location yet. However, we are investigating in the KUET area.” He added that CCTV footage from the area will be collected to identify and arrest those involved.
Meanwhile, it has been claimed that the injured students are affiliated with the student wing of the opposition, the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD). In response to the attack, JCD's city unit announced a protest march scheduled for Wednesday. This was confirmed in a press release issued around 10:00 PM on Tuesday night.
In a strongly worded statement condemning the attack, JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir said, “Since August 5, Chhatra Dal has been working with the utmost patience and sincerity. However, some people are mistaking this for weakness. If necessary, Chhatra Dal members will unitedly respond to murder and secret attacks with appropriate force.”
This attack comes in the wake of prolonged unrest at KUET. Following a clash on February 18, the university was declared closed on February 25, leading to a standoff between students and administration. A hunger strike and single-point movement led to the government’s removal of the then Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor on April 25. Subsequently, Professor Dr. Md. Hazarat Ali of the Civil Engineering Department at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) was appointed as acting Vice-Chancellor on May 1.
Although classes were scheduled to resume on May 4 as per the syndicate's decision, KUET teachers did not return to academic activities. The teachers' association stated they would not resume classes until justice is served for the humiliation of faculty members by students. As a result, Dr. Hazarat Ali resigned from his position as Vice-Chancellor on Wednesday, May 21.
