Classes in KUET yet to start as teachers demand justice over harassment

The authorities previously had decided that classes would resume on May 4, but teachers demand those who humiliated their colleagues be mete out justice first

Academic activities at the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) were supposed to resume on Sunday after 74 days of suspension, but the teachers have not returned to classes over calls to punish students who harassed their colleagues.

The development has put a question mark over when classes may resume on the campus.

On Feb 18, clashes broke out between the Chhatra Dal – the BNP’s student wing - and supporters of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement on campus over a demand to halt student politics. More than fifty students were injured in the clashes.

On Feb 19, KUET authorities decided to halt all academic activities until Feb 28 to ensure the students’ safety at a syndicate meeting. On Feb 25, the university syndicate decided to close the residential halls indefinitely at its 99th emergency meeting. All students were ordered to vacate the halls by 10am the next day.

Later, on April 4, another syndicate meeting decided to resume all academic activities from May 4.

KUET Professor Faruque Hossain, general secretary of the Teachers' Association, said that they will not return to academic activities until those who were behind the Feb 18 clashes and humiliating the teachers, including the VC, from February 18 are brought to justice.

Md Shahidul Islam, president of the teachers' association, said a meeting on Apr 18 decided that teachers would not return to classes until their demands were met.

Prof Abdullah Elias Akhter, the director of Student Welfare, said, “KUET authorities are in discussions with teachers about the situation that has emerged. KUET’s acting vice-chancellor is sitting with everyone, including the dean. Today he is meeting with officials, employees, and different forums. A solution is being scoped in this manner.”

A student of the university, Rahatul Islam, said: “We have already apologised to the teachers for our mistakes. We do not want to engage in any hostility towards them. We will go to the teachers again and apologise.”

He said, “Our protest was against the KUET vice-chancellor, not against the teachers. In the meantime, classes and exams have not been held for more than two months. We want the situation on campus to return to normal as soon as possible.”

On Feb 18, clashes broke out between the Chhatra Dal – the BNP’s student wing - and supporters of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement on campus over a demand to halt student politics. More than fifty students were injured in the clashes.

The following day, the students locked all academic buildings, including the administrative building in protest. That afternoon, the university's syndicate met and decided to suspend all political activities at KUET. A committee was formed to investigate the incident. That night, the administration filed a case against 400 to 500 unidentified people at Khanjahan Ali Police Station.

On Feb 20, students held a protest rally on the campus to demand a ban on all political student organisations. They also demanded the resignation of the vice-chancellor.

The movement reignited on Apr 13, when students began an indefinite sit-in in front of the administrative building demanding the reopening of residential halls. On Apr 15, students moved to press for a single demand: the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Prof Muhammad Mashud. That same day, they broke the locks on six residential halls for male students and re-entered.

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.

Education Ministry Advisor CR Abrar travelled to the KUET campus on 23 and was greeted by students chanting anti-VC slogans. He spent about 40 minutes speaking with students, including those on hunger strike. But he failed to break their resolve to fast unto death.

Later that day, a syndicate meeting decided to lift the expulsion orders of 37 students and reopen all residential halls. The meeting also reaffirmed that academic activities at the university would resume on May 4 as previously announced.

A three-strong committee of the University Grants Commission (UGC) went to the campus and ended the hunger strike protest around 1am on Thursday.

Later upon hearing the decision to relieve the VC and pro-VC of their duties, the students rejoiced and took out a procession to mark the success.