Dhaka, July 20: Five months after violent student clashes disrupted academic life at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), the institution remains entangled in administrative and academic uncertainty. While students of the 2021–22 academic sessions returned to classrooms on Sunday, the university is still without a permanent vice-chancellor, leaving over 7,500 students facing session delays and an unclear academic future, reports Prothom Alo.
A message posted on the social media page ‘Bloody KUET’ on Saturday encouraged students to resume studies, stating, “We will return to class tomorrow, shaking off old-fashioned thinking and showing the red card to negativity.” The initiative saw a large number of 21st and 22nd batch students return, although lingering tensions remain between faculty and students.
“Many teachers were upset during the movement. We have apologized. But five months have already been lost, and we are compelled to return to class,” said Ashir Muntakim Ferdous, a 21st batch student.
Though the syndicate had earlier announced a May 4 reopening, the situation remained stalled due to unresolved issues. Meanwhile, some students remain off-campus citing safety concerns.
In Dhaka, the Guardian Forum submitted a memorandum to the University Grants Commission (UGC) and held a human chain protest demanding the swift resumption of full academic activities.
The crisis began on February 18 when clashes broke out over a demand to ban student politics, injuring over 100. The fallout led to the removal of both the vice-chancellor and associate vice-chancellor. However, efforts to appoint a permanent VC have stalled, with interim appointments facing faculty resistance.
The KUET Teachers’ Association insists that those responsible for attacks on faculty must be held accountable before they agree to fully return to teaching, further complicating efforts to restore normalcy.
