Kuet shut down till 28 Feb amid unrest, politics remain banned
A four-member committee has been formed to conduct a thorough investigation into Tuesday's clash. The committee is required to submit a report within three working days.
Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) has banned all political activities on campus, with students facing lifetime expulsion and enrollment cancellation if involved.
Also, faculty members, officers, and staff are prohibited from participating in any political organisation's activities.
The decision was made at the university's 93rd syndicate meeting on Wednesday (19 February), said Kuet Public Relations Officer (Additional Duty) Shaheduzzaman Sheikh.
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As per the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology Act, 2003 (Clause 44(5)), teachers, officers, and employees are prohibited from engaging in political activities. Violators will be investigated, and if found guilty, they will be dismissed from their positions.
To investigate Tuesday's violent clashes, the syndicate formed a four-member committee, led by Prof MMA Hashem of the Computer Science and Engineering department.
The committee has been given three working days to submit its report.
The syndicate also decided to take legal action, including filing cases, against outsiders involved in the clashes, while guilty students will face temporary suspension.
The university administration will cover medical expenses for injured students and implement measures to enhance campus security.
Academic activities will remain suspended until 28 February to ensure student safety.
The clashes, which erupted Tuesday afternoon and continued into the evening, saw repeated confrontations between Chhatra Dal activists and other students, leaving over 100 people injured.
Later at a press conference on Tuesday night, a section of students issued five demands: banning campus politics with lifetime expulsion for violators, legal action against those involved in the clashes, army deployment outside the campus until 28 February, full medical coverage for injured students, and the resignation of top university officials for their failure.
Students boycott VC, Pro-VC
Agitating students have boycotted Kuet VC Prof Muhammad Masud for not resigning as per their demand.
The students gathered on the campus at around 4.45pm on Tuesday and announced this boycott and said they do not feel safe under the Masud-led Kuet administration.
The protesters also boycotted the pro-vice-chancellor and the director of student welfare affairs.
Earlier in the day, protesting students locked up the VC, the pro-VC and the Kuet Student Welfare director at night demanding their resignation following the clash.
They remained confined with protesters standing guard overnight to prevent his escape.
All three Kuet officials were later hospitalised yesterday.
The students had given them until 1pm to resign citing administrative failure during the clash.
The protest began on Tuesday when students demanded the VC take responsibility for the violent attack on campus.
He, however, refused to do so, stating, "I have no failures. Fights happen."
This angered the students which led to a physical altercation with him when students reportedly threw shoes at him. Following this, the VC fell ill and was admitted to the medical centre.
JCD blames Students Against Discrimination, Shibir
At a press conference in Dhaka on Wednesday, Chhatra Dal claimed that the attack at Kuet was allegedly orchestrated by members of the Students Against Discrimination and Islami Chhatra Shibir.
Speaking at the event held at DU TSC, Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam said, "Based on victims' testimonies, media reports, images, and videos, we found that the first attack came from that rally."
General Secretary Nasir Uddin claimed that Chhatra Shibir members, fearing exposure after recent mass uprisings, carried out the attack on Chhatra Dal members.
