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Published : 28 Jul 2025, 12:21 AM
The Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) has remained closed indefinitely since Feb 25 following violent clashes surrounding the demand to ban student politics.
This marks the longest-ever closure in the institution’s history.
Almost five months have passed since the suspension of academic activities.
Despite multiple protests by both students and faculty members, and the appointment of two vice-chancellors, classes have yet to resume.
The prolonged closure has left nearly 7,000 students worried about session jams.
Most recently, on Jul 24, Professor Md Maksud Helali of the mechanical engineering department at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) was appointed as the new vice-chancellor of KUET.
Speaking to journalists on Sunday evening, he said: “Coordination among all stakeholders is essential to ensure campus safety, restore academic atmosphere, and run administrative activities properly. Discussions have been held with all parties to resolve the current stalemate. Talks with teachers are ongoing. I hope a decision to resume classes will be taken soon.”
According to university authorities, KUET began its journey in 1967 as Khulna Engineering College under the Faculty of Engineering at Rajshahi University. It was transformed into the Bangladesh Institute of Technology (BIT), Khulna in 1984.
Later, on Sept 1, 2003, it was upgraded to an independent institution named Khulna University of Engineering and Technology. Since its inception, the university has never witnessed such a prolonged disruption in academic activities.
Professor Md Faruque Hossain, general secretary of KUET Teachers’ Association, said the ongoing deadlock is unprecedented in his 23-year teaching career.
“Never before has KUET remained shut for so long. This is truly unfortunate. Students are the ones suffering most,” he added.
When asked about the resumption of classes around 8pm on Sunday, he said: “Discussions are under way with the vice-chancellor. Hopefully, a decision will be made within a day or two.”
Students said KUET has fallen behind all other engineering universities in the country over the past five months.
The 19th batch was supposed to graduate in March, but they are now in limbo, while their parents are spending days in frustration.
The students said that while political tensions occasionally trigger clashes on campuses, leading to temporary closures, nothing of this magnitude has happened since 2012.
They termed the current crisis “extremely tragic” and urged its swift resolution.
Students noted they held several rounds of discussions with faculty members.
The last time teachers assured them that classes would resume once a new vice-chancellor took charge. As the appointment has been made, students remain hopeful that teachers will return to class.
The crisis began on Feb 18, when Chhatra Dal and the Anti-discrimination Student Movement supporters clashed multiple times over the demand to ban student politics on the campus, leaving over 50 students injured.
That night, students accused the vice-chancellor of bias toward the attackers and raised five demands, including his resignation.
When the demands were not met, students padlocked the administrative and academic buildings on Feb 19.
Earlier, on Feb 18 at 4pm, the vice-chancellor had been confined to the medical centre. He was released around 5:15pm the next day.
While in captivity, he presided over an emergency syndicate meeting online on Feb 19.
On Feb 21, students locked the entrance of the vice-chancellor's residence.
He later returned to his official residence on Feb 24. The following morning, students gave him a deadline until 10:30am on Feb 25 to vacate the residence.
The university was declared closed indefinitely that day, and students were instructed to leave the residential halls.
Following the clashes, the syndicate suspended 37 students temporarily during a meeting on Apr 14 after Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
Protesting the suspension, students launched a new movement demanding the resignation of the VC. On Apr 21, 32 students began a hunger strike.
To resolve the crisis, a delegation from the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Education Advisor Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar visited KUET on Apr 23.
Students ended the hunger strike following assurances that their demands would be addressed.
That night, the government announced that steps had been initiated to remove KUET VC Prof Muhammad Mashud and Pro-VC Prof SK Shariful Alam.
On May 1, Prof Md Hazrat Ali of the civil engineering department at the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) was appointed as KUET’s acting vice-chancellor.
Though classes were scheduled to resume on May 4, teachers refrained from teaching.
On May 18, they also halted administrative activities, saying they would not return to classrooms until those involved in the harassment of teachers were punished.
On May 22, Prof Hazrat Ali resigned.
UGC member Professor Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan, who had visited KUET on Apr 23, said the crisis could have been resolved earlier. “The root cause of the prolonged crisis lies in the position taken by the Teachers' Association,” he said.
Tanzimuddin emphasised that teachers have a primary responsibility to teach and ensure the welfare of students. “KUET teachers last said they would return once a vice-chancellor was appointed. Now that has happened, I hope they will return to class,” he added.
Teachers’ Association General Secretary Prof Faruque said, “No teacher wants to see students suffer. We have always been sincere about resuming classes. But without a vice-chancellor, a resolution was not possible. No university in Bangladesh has gone without a vice-chancellor for this long.”
He added, “We placed some demands before the previous vice-chancellor. At that time, two batches were attending classes, and exams for three others were about to start.
“The vice-chancellor resigned right after we submitted our demands. Without him, nothing could be resolved, nor could any exams be held. These are the reasons the crisis dragged on for so long.”
