Kuet VC, Pro-VC resign amid student protests

Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (Kuet) Vice-Chancellor Muhammad Mashud and Pro Vice-Chancellor Sheikh Shariful Alam have resigned following ongoing student protests.

A senior official from the Ministry of Education confirmed the development to Prothom Alo today (24 April), stating that the resignation process is currently underway.

Earlier, a press release from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting mentioned that in light of recent events at Kuet, the government has initiated steps to relieve the vice-chancellor and pro vice-chancellor of their duties in order to resolve the ongoing crisis and resume academic activities without delay.

A search committee will soon be formed to appoint new officials to both positions.

Meanwhile, a senior faculty member will be temporarily assigned to the role of acting vice-chancellor to ensure the continuity of the university's operations, according to the Ministry of Education.

The developments come as students across campuses began hunger strikes and staged demonstrations demanding Prof Mashud's removal as Kuet VC in solidarity with Kuet students who have been staging a hunger strike since 21 April over the same demand.

Earlier, students at Rajshahi University and Jahangirnagar University launched hunger strikes on their respective campuses in solidarity with the students from Kuet.

Later, the Bangladesh Democratic Students Council, in a press statement, condemned the interim government for not taking measures to heed the protesting students' demand and announced that they will take a protest march to the Ministry of Education at around 2:00pm today.

Prior to that, on Tuesday night, students from the Dhaka University blocked the Shahbagh intersection in the capital, demanding Prof Mashud's removal as Kuet VC.

Earlier that day, students from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) and the DU held separate protest rallies in solidarity with the movement of the students of Kuet.