United News of Bangladesh

Academic activities at the Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (Kuet) resumed on Tuesday after a suspension of over five months, breaking the longstanding deadlock on the campus and bringing relief to its students. The decision to resume the academic activities follows after the university’s teachers’ association agreed to suspend their protest programme for three weeks. Earlier, on Monday, newly appointed Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Md Maksud Helali instructed the teachers to resume classes from Tuesday. The teachers had been boycotting academic duties since May 4 demanding justice over the assault on faculty members following a clash on the campus on February 18. Dr Maksud Helali appointed new KUET VC The clash, which erupted over a demand to ban student politics, left over a hundred injured. That night, students allegedly manhandled the then VC and some faculty members for allegedly siding with the attackers. Later, on April 25, the Ministry of Education removed VC Prof Dr Muhammad Masud. Prof Helali, who was appointed as VC last Thursday, said all sections, including students, faculty members and officials, had been consulted with. “Teachers and students have agreed that classes and investigations will proceed simultaneously,” he said. General Secretary of the teachers' association, Prof Faruk Hossain, said they suspended their protest programme, expressing the hope that the administration will now act on their demands. Leadership vacuum paralyses Kuet; salaries unpaid, projects stalled Students welcomed the decision as they have been able to return to regular academic life after five months and 10 days.

Financial and administrative activities at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) have come to a standstill as the university remains without a vice-chancellor (VC) for over a week. More than 1,100 teachers, staff and employees have not received their salaries, wages or Eid-ul-Azha bonuses. Frustration is growing across the university, according to insiders. They said the university accounts section said no financial activity is possible without the VC’s signature. Monthly payments to around 350 teachers, 200 officials and 500 employees remain pending.  Kuet teachers demand resignation of interim VC Thirty outsourced guards have not been paid for April. Over 500 minimum-wage workers are struggling without income. Md Sumon Sardar, supervisor of the guards, said they are working with bare minimum salary, borrowing money, facing pressure from shopkeepers, unable to care for their children and worried about Eid. Dr Zulfiqer Hossain, Kuet’s structure and academic expansion coordinator, said a Tk 600 crore project remains unpaid, contractors hinted they will stop work if not paid before Eid and the fiscal year ends on June 30. He said no project bills have been signed since VC Masud left. Work on all projects may stop if a new VC is not appointed soon. Chief Engineer ABM Mamunur Rashid said contractors are not being paid on time, their work pace has slowed and ongoing projects may shut down midway. He said salaries, wages and bonuses for all Kuet personnel have stopped and called the recruitment of a new VC a crying need. The Kuet community has urged immediate appointment of an active and capable VC. They fear further delay will deepen the crisis. On May 19, interim VC Dr Md Hazrat Ali informed he was travelling to Dhaka for official work. He resigned on 22 May. Earlier on April 25, the Ministry of Education removed VC Prof Dr Muhammad Masud and Pro-VC Dr Shariful Alam.  Kuet VC Prof Hazrat Ali resigns The move followed heavy pressure from the student movement.

A student of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) drowned in a pond on the campus on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Shantanu Karmakar, a student of the 23rd batch of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Kuet and son of Sukumar Chandra Karmakar, a resident of Raja Dewri in Old Dhaka. Deputy Police Commissioner (North) of Khulna Metropolitan Police Abul Bashar Mohammad Atikur Rahman said Shantanu drowned in the campus pond in the afternoon. SSC examinee drowns in Padma River in Rajshahi A fireman from Khulna Sadar Fire Station said, “We received the information around 3 pm. We responded immediately and were able to locate and recover the body within three minutes.” Professor Dr Abdullah Ilias Akhtar, Kuet’s Director of Student Welfare, said the fire service personnel rescued the student and he was then rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital by the university's ambulance. Khanjahan Ali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Kabir Hossain said Shantanu went to the pond for bathing. As he did not return after a while, his fellow students started searching around the pond, he said. The fire service was informed and they recovered the body around 3:45 pm. He was taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital where the doctors declared him dead. His body was kept at Khulna Medical College Hospital.

No classes were held at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) on Sunday despite its reopening after two and a half months of closure as teachers started class boycott on various demands. Md Abdullah Elias Akhtar, Director of Students' Welfare at Kuet, said, “Classes could not be held as the teachers’ association is boycotting academic activities.  The teachers remain firm in their decision. The Vice-Chancellor is holding a meeting with the teachers today.” Md Faruk Hossain, General Secretary of the Kuet Teachers’ Association, said, “We will not return to classes until justice is served against those responsible for the February 18  unrest and the assault on the Vice-Chancellor and other faculty members. We have already informed the newly appointed acting VC of our stance.” Search committee to appoint new Kuet VC, Pro-VC The crisis began on February 18 following an attack on students on the campus. In the wake of the attack, students demanded the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Pro-VC), and the Director of Students' Welfare (DSW). The prolonged protests, including a hunger strike by students, eventually led to the removal of KUET Vice-Chancellor and Pro-VC by the Ministry of Education. On May 1, Prof Dr Md Hazrat Ali of the Civil Engineering Department at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) was appointed as the acting Vice-Chancellor. He arrived in Khulna on May 2 and formally assumed office on May 3. Students expressed frustration by the prolonged suspension of classes and exams.  

Prof Dr Md Hazrat Ali of the Civil Engineering Department at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology has been appointed as the acting Vice Chancellor (VC) of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET). The Ministry of Education issued a notification regarding his appointment on Thursday (May 1). According to the notification, the appointment was made with the approval of the President, who is the Chancellor, to fill the vacancy on an interim basis until a full-time VC is appointed. During his tenure, Prof Hazrat Ali will receive the salary and allowances equivalent to his current position along with other relevant benefits as per the rules. He will serve as the university’s chief executive officer and will be required to stay on the KUET campus on a full-time basis. JUCSU election set for July 31, army to be deployed if needed The order also states that the President and Chancellor reserves the right to revoke the appointment at any time, if deemed necessary. The appointment followed student protests following an incident of violence on the KUET campus on February 18. Students had demanded the resignation of the Vice Chancellor, Pro-Vice Chancellor, and Director of Student Welfare (DSW). After more than two months of continuous demonstrations and a hunger strike unto death by students, the Ministry of Education removed both the Vice Chancellor and Pro-Vice Chancellor on April 25.

The government is forming a search committee to appoint a new Vice-Chancellor (VC) and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Pro-VC) for Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet), as part of efforts to resolve the ongoing crisis at the university. A press release issued by the Ministry of Education on Thursday said the current VC and Pro-VC are being relieved of their duties to help restore normal academic activities at Kuet. Process begins to remove KUET VC and pro-VC  In the meantime, a senior professor will be appointed as acting VC to ensure the smooth functioning of the university’s daily operations, it added.

Teachers of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) have decided not to return to classes unless their three-point demand including justice over the February 18 attack on students and teachers is fulfilled. The decision came from an emergency meeting of  Kuet Teachers’ Association held on Thursday where members of the association agreed to boycott academic activities until those involved in the assault on the teachers including the Vice-Chancellor are identified and brought to justice. The association rejected the ongoing student protest demanding the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor terming the demand “unjustified” and “based on baseless and unrealistic allegations,” said a press release issued by the association on Sunday. The teachers expressed concern over the alleged attempts to destabilise the campus by spreading misinformation. Kuet urges calm, condemns hall break-in amid tensions On February 18, a group of ‘outsiders’ launched an attack on general students on the Kuet campus, injuring several. The attackers also reportedly harassed the VC and other faculty members during the unrest. Teachers have been demanding proper investigation and accountability since the incident. In response to the recent developments, the association has formed a five-member inquiry committee led by Mechanical Engineering department professor Dr Abdullah Al Faruque to investigate the physical assault and cyberbullying against teachers. The committee will submit a detailed report to the university administration for further action. In a statement signed by association president Dr Md Shahidur Rahman and general secretary Dr Md Faruq Hossain, the teachers reaffirmed their unity and warned against any attempts to impose authoritarian control on campus in the guise of student movement. 15 sued over 2017 assaults at Kuet; ex-VC, pro-VC among accused

Students of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) on Tuesday afternoon broke the locks of several residential halls and entered the premises, intensifying their ongoing protest with a single demand- the resignation of Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Mahmud. At around 3 pm, the protesting students broke the locks of Khan Jahan Ali Hall, Dr M A Rashid Hall, Amar Ekushey Hall, and Lalon Shah Hall, reclaiming access to their living spaces after being locked out by the university authorities amid unrest on the campus. Earlier, at around 1:45 pm, students held a press briefing at the KUET Student Welfare Center where they formally announced their one-point demand. “Since the VC has failed to ensure students' safety, denied responsibility, cut off essential services like water and internet, encouraged legal action against protesters, and suspended students unfairly — we now declare the removal of the VC as our only demand,” a student representative stated during the announcement. They also called for an impartial investigation into recent events under the supervision of a new Vice Chancellor. Kuet suspends 37 students over February clash The protest began on Sunday (April 13) as students demanded the immediate reopening of the halls and the resumption of academic activities. On Monday night (April 14), following an emergency Syndicate meeting, KUET authorities announced that halls would reopen on May 2 and classes would resume on May 4. However, students rejected this decision, calling it unreasonably delayed. Today, KUET also resumed some official activities on campus. The movement has its roots in the February 18 campus clash, which led to the temporary suspension of 37 students. Protesters have since demanded the withdrawal of the suspensions and action against the actual perpetrators.

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.

Authorities at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) have sued 400 unnamed people over Tuesday's attacks on the general students of the institution. The university’s Security Inspector Md Moniruzzaman Liton filed the case with Khan Jahan Ali police station on Wednesday night, said Shahaduzzaman, public relations officer of Kuet. The Kuet administration formed a four member body to investigate the attacks and asked it to submit a report within three working days; said a media release issued on Wednesday night. The decisions to file a case and form the body were taken at the 93rd emergency syndicate meeting of the university headed by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Mashud on Wednesday. The meeting also took decisions identifying those involved with the attacks on students, keeping the ban on campus politics of teachers, students and others in force, terminate teachers, officials and staffers of the university if they are found involved with politics upon probe, expulsion for life and cancellation of studentship for the students. Chhatra Dal blames Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Shibir for Kuet attack Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, at least 50 students were injured in a series of clashes between the general students and the BNP’s student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) over banning student politics on the campus. At one stage of the clashes, outsiders, said to be BNP men, allegedly joined the JCD members, and attacked the students. The Kuet authority suspended academic activities till February 28 as tension was mounted on Wednesday.