United News of Bangladesh

Interim-Vice Chancellor (VC) of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) Prof Dr Md Hazrat Ali has stepped down amid  teachers’ protests. Abdur Rahman, deputy registrar of the university, said that the VC submitted his resignation letter to the Ministry of Education on Thursday. Earlier in the morning, Kuet teachers formed a human chain demanding resignation of the VC and expressed a lack of confidence in his leadership. On April 25, the ministry relieved former VC Prof Dr Muhammad Masud and Pro VC Prof Dr Sheikh Shariful Alam of their posts amid student movement. Kuet teachers demand resignation of interim VC On May 1, the government appointed Prof Hazrat Ali, a faculty member of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet), as Kuet VC. Amid the protests and counter-protests by the teachers and students, the VC left the campus for Dhaka on May 19 saying his official urgency.

A section of students of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) locked the main entrance of the Vice-Chancellor’s (VC) residence on Friday night and vowed to continue their movement demanding his resignation. They rejected the decision of the university’s 98th syndicate meeting on Friday night. The students also sent a letter to the Chief Adviser demanding the removal of Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Masud and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Shariful Islam. They locked the residence of the VC and refuted allegations that they had harassed the VC, calling it false propaganda. There is no evidence, not even a single video, showing that the students physically assaulted Dr Masud they treated him with due respect, they claimed. Students also alleged that despite syndicate decision banning student politics, such activities continued on campus, they alleged. Kuet sues 400 people over attacks on students They urged the administration to implement this policy effectively. Kuet Teachers' Association President Prof Dr Saidur Rahman and General Secretary Prof Faruk Hossain, in a statement to the media expressed regret over the incidents. They warned that forcing the VC and Pro-VC to resign would set a negative precedent. On Tuesday afternoon, at least 50 students were injured in a series of clashes between ‘general students’ and the JCD activists over banning student politics on the campus. The unrest at Kuet erupted on February 18 following a clash between some ‘general students’ and Chhatra Dal activists over the distribution of Chhatra Dal (BNP's student wing) nomination forms. The violence escalated as local outsiders reportedly joined in the attacks on students. Later an emergency syndicate meeting decided to suspend Kuet’s academic activities until February 28.