Kuet students protest against university, dorm closure

Students at the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) brought out a procession late Tuesday (25 February) in protest of the indefinite closure of the university and its residential dormitories announced by the administration earlier on the day.

The protesters brought out the procession at around 10:00pm. They circled various roads on campus and ended the procession in front of Durbar Bangla monument, reports our Khulna correspondent.

The students alleged that the university administration announced the closure to suppress the ongoing student movement seeking the resignation of Kuet Vice Chancellor Prof Mohammad Masud.

This is the first time since the July Revolution that a university has announced a closure of halls to suppress a student movement. We will not leave the university.

In a notification, signed by the university's Registrar Md Anisur Rahman Bhuiyan, issued earlier on the day the Kuet administration announced an indefinite closure of all academic activities of the university and asked students to vacate residential halls by 10am Wednesday (26 February).

The announcement came hours after students tried to put a lock at the gate of VC's residence as part of their movement. 

Students alleged that some teachers took a position in front of the VC's residence. 

"The teachers also threatened that they will ensure that we fail in our examinations," one protester told The Business Standard on condition of anonymity.

"Teachers can make us pass or fail our exams if they want. They are basically trying to remind us of that and prevent us from protesting. If we protest against the VC, our CGPA will be reduced, that is the level of the threat," the student added.

The demand for the VC's resignation started on 18 February following a clash between some "general students" and members of BNP's student wing Chhatra Dal and youth with Jatiotabadi Jubodal over banning student politics on the campus.

At least 30 students were injured in the clash that reportedly erupted over the distribution of Chhatra Dal's recruitment form.  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 28 February.

Meanwhile, on 23 February, a group of Kuet students met with Shabbir Ahmed, assistant personal secretary to the chief adviser, and submitted a memorandum to the chief adviser, presenting their six-point demands, including the removal of the vice-chancellor and ensuring politics-free campus.