Kuet unrest: VC hospitalised after students surround residence
Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (Kuet) Vice-Chancellor Prof Muhammad Masud was hospitalised after being locked up by a group of protesting students last night following a clash on campus earlier on the day.
He is currently receiving treatment at Kuet's medical centre.
The VC remains confined with protesters standing guard overnight to prevent his escape.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
They have given him until 1pm to resign along with the pro-VC and director of Student Welfare, citing administrative failure.
The protest began yesterday (18 February) 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.
Tension gripped the Kuet campus all morning as additional police personnel, along with other forces, remained deployed surrounding the campus to ward off any unwanted incident.
Earlier on Tuesday (18 February), a clash erupted between the Kuet students and Jatiotabadi Chatradal at the campus area over the demand to ban student politics on campus.
According to eyewitnesses, a campaign by the Jatiotabadi Chatradal, student body of the BNP, started on campus this morning, which led to protests by a group of students who opposed student politics.
Later, the two groups had a confrontation in front of the campus's central Jame Mosque, escalating into a clash. They also hurled bricks amid a chase and counter-chase.
At least 30 people were reportedly injured during the clash.
Later that night, students held a press briefing, demanding a complete ban on student politics at Kuet, punishment for those who attacked the students, and the resignation of the vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor, and the director of Student Welfare, among five key demands.
They issued an ultimatum to meet their demands by 1pm today (19 February) and announced that all classes and exams at Kuet would remain suspended until their demands are met.
