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CR Abrar says he urged the seriously ill students to at least drink water, and asked the others to continue their protest in a safer manner but they didn't agree
Published : 23 Apr 2025, 12:45 PM
A meeting between Education Advisor CR Abrar and students observing a hunger strike at the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) has ended without a resolution as the protesters refused to budge from their demand for the resignation of the institution’s vice-chancellor (VC).
Abrar arrived at the KUET campus around 9:45am on Wednesday, where he was greeted by students chanting anti-VC slogans. He spent about 40 minutes speaking with students, including those on hunger strike.
During the conversation, student leaders explained how their original charter of six demands had narrowed into a single demand - the removal of VC Prof Md Mashud. Hunger-striking students Galib, Tawfiq, Saikat, Rahat, and Mohibuzzaman Upol made it clear they would not end their fast until the VC stepped down.
Abrar had previously contacted the students by phone on Tuesday to check on their health.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the advisor said: “It’s deeply unfortunate that the situation has come to the point where students are forced to go on hunger strike. I came here as a father figure. I urged the seriously ill students to at least drink water, and asked the others to continue their protest in a safer manner. But they didn't agree.”
“I’m still requesting them to end the hunger strike. I hope the issue will be resolved as soon as possible.”
Abrar noted that the students had indicated that an immediate announcement could prompt them to call off the strike, but he stressed that any decision must follow procedural guidelines.
When some members of the university syndicate tried to speak with him in front of the Student Welfare Centre, he declined, saying: “I came here only to speak with the students on hunger strike, not with anyone else.”
STUDENTS HOLD FIRM AS HEALTH DETERIORATES
On the third day of their hunger strike, many students were visibly weak, but they refused to back down.
They said the strike would continue until the vice-chancellor is removed.
Meanwhile, a three-strong team from the University Grants Commission (UGC) was expected to visit the campus on Wednesday to assess the situation.
The crisis dates back to Feb 18, when demands to ban student politics triggered clashes between activists of the Chhatra Dal and the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, injuring over 50 students.
The following day, students locked down all academic and administrative buildings. In response, KUET’s syndicate suspended all political activities on campus and formed a committee to investigate the violence. A case was later filed at Khan Jahan Ali Police Station, accusing 400–500 unidentified individuals.
On Feb 20, students symbolically showed a red card to all political student organisations and called for the VC’s resignation. They later submitted a memorandum to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka on Feb 23, which included calls for justice and the VC’s removal.
On Feb 25, the university’s syndicate held an emergency meeting and decided to close all residential halls indefinitely. Students were instructed to vacate by 10am the next day.
A full investigation into the clashes was completed and submitted on Sunday. Meanwhile, a local resident filed a separate case against 22 KUET students at a Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court.
The movement reignited on Apr 13, when students began an indefinite sit-in in front of the administrative building demanding the reopening of halls.
On Apr 4, the syndicate announced the suspension of 37 students allegedly involved in the clashes. They also decided to reopen all residential halls from May 2 and resume academic activities from May 4.
On Apr 15, students moved to press for a single demand: the resignation of VC Mashud. That same day, they broke the locks on six residential halls for male students and re-entered.
On Apr 16, students staged a protest march on campus and later held a symbolic event where they burned an effigy of the VC’s chair.
On Apr 20, the students gave a 24-hour ultimatum for the VC to resign. When the deadline passed without any development, they launched their hunger strike.
