Prof Md Hazrat Ali appointed interim VC of Kuet
During his tenure, Prof Hazrat Ali will perform routine duties, said the gazette
Prof Md Hazrat Ali, of the civil engineering department at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet), has been appointed as the interim vice-chancellor (VC) of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet).
A gazette, signed by the education ministry's Senior Assistant Secretary ASM Kashem, was issued in this regard today (1 May).
According to the gazette, the interim VC has been appointed until a full time VC is appointed following Sections 10/1 and 10/3 of the Kuet Act.
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During his tenure, Prof Hazrat Ali will perform routine duties, said the gazette.
In his immediate reaction, Prof Ali told The Business Standard, "I got the gazette a while ago. Now I will meet the Cuet VC. I'll join Kuet after getting my release letter. There may be a slight delay in my joining as the administrations will be closed the next two days [as it's the weekends]."
Stating that he was a student from the 83rd batch of Kuet's civil engineering department, Prof Ali said he was happy to be the head of his own alma mater.
Earlier, on 18 February, clashes erupted at Kuet over demands to ban student politics, leaving over a hundred injured. The next day, students locked all academic and administrative buildings.
During an emergency syndicate meeting that afternoon, Kuet authorities decided to halt all political activities on campus and formed a committee to investigate the clashes. Later that night, the administration filed a case against 400-500 unnamed individuals at Khanjahan Ali Police Station.
On 20 February, students held a protest rally on campus, displaying red cards to all political student organisations and demanding the then VC's resignation.
On 23 February, students travelled from Khulna to Dhaka to submit a memorandum to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, demanding the trial of those involved in the attacks, the VC's resignation, and six other points.
On 25 February, Kuet's highest policymaking body, the syndicate, decided to close all residential halls indefinitely during its 99th emergency meeting. Students were ordered to vacate the halls by 10am the next day, prompting further protests on campus.
On 14 April, at the 101st (emergency) syndicate meeting of Kuet, 37 students were temporarily expelled. Kuet authorities withdrew the suspension of 37 students on 23 April amid protests.
On 25 April, the Ministry of Education issued notifications removing Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) vice chancellor Mohammad Mashud and pro-VC Sheikh Shariful Alam from their posts.
