Govt issues notifications removing Kuet VC, pro-VC from their posts

The Ministry of Education has issued notifications removing Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) vice chancellor Mohammad Mashud and pro-VC Sheikh Shariful Alam from their posts.

The ministry issued two separate notifications, signed by the Senior Assistant Secretary ASM Kashem, in this regard today (25 April).

The notifications state that the VC has been discharged under Section 10(2) of the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology Act, 2003 while the pro-VC has been discharged under Section 12(2), and they will now return to their respective departments.

Govt decides to remove Kuet VC Prof Mashud from post in the face of growing protests

Earlier, on 24 April, a media statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the interim government has decided to relieve the Kuet VC and pro-VC from their duties in the face of growing student protests on various campuses across the country.

The development came as students across campuses began hunger strikes and staging 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.

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

Meanwhile, on 23 April, the Bangladesh Democratic Students Council, in a press statement, condemned the interim government for not taking measures to heed the protesting students' demand.

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.

On 23 April morning, a high-level delegation of University Grant Commission (UGC) members, education ministry officials, including Adviser CR Abrar, visited the Kuet students on hunger strike on the campus. 

During the visit, the adviser repeatedly requested the protesting students to end their hunger strike. But the students refused to withdraw their protest.

He informed the students that the ministry has already formed a committee to look into their demands and that the committee would soon hold discussions with them. 

However, the students rejected his appeal, saying they were unwilling to wait any longer. 

What led to the hunger strike

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.

That night, the administration filed a case against 400-500 unnamed individuals with 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 vice-chancellor's resignation. 

On 23 February, students travelled from Khulna to Dhaka to submit a memorandum to the Chief Adviser, demanding the trial of those involved in the attacks, the VC's resignation, and six other points.

On 25 February, Kuet's highest policy making 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. 

"Following the unfortunate incidents at Kuet on 18 policy-making and 19 February, an investigation committee was formed at the 98th [emergency] syndicate meeting on 19 February. Their sealed report was presented to the syndicate and accepted. The decision was made to expel 37 students accused of involvement in the incident temporarily," said Shaheduzzaman Sheikh, public relations officer (additional duty) of Kuet that day. 

At the same time, the matter was referred to the university's Student Disciplinary Committee for necessary action, according to the investigation report. 

Additionally, it was decided that all residential halls would reopen for students on 2 May, with classes resuming on 4 May.

Meanwhile, on 10 April, a person named Hochen Ali from the Maheshwarpasha North Banikapara area of the city filed a case against 22 Kuet students in the Metropolitan Magistrate's Court.