Students at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) have demanded the immediate resignation of Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohammad Mashud, issuing an ultimatum for stricter action if their demands are not met.
Hundreds of former KUET students organised a solidarity rally on Tuesday at Dhaka University's (DU) Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture. The rally drew significant participation from DU and BUET students, who expressed outrage over alleged administrative abuses at KUET. Meanwhile, 32 KUET students have been on hunger strike for over 25 hours, with three has already been hospitalised.
Protesters claim KUET students have been advocating for justified demands for over two months, but the administration has responded with repression, including filing false cases against students. They argue that the failure to stabilise a single campus reflects the shortcomings of the interim government.
"In July, the disgraceful VC of Dhaka University, Maksud Kamal, brought thugs and attacked students here. Just as we shed blood to free this campus from terrorism, KUET students will also liberate their campus," declared DU student Mostafa Ahmed, drawing passionate cheers from attendees.
Speakers highlighted that 22 students were named in magistrate's criminal cases filed on 10 April, followed by anonymous cases against over 100 students at Khan Jahan Ali Police Station. Subsequently, 37 students were suspended.
"This movement isn't just about student demands. It's against those teachers who align with political parties and shatter students' palms into pieces. How will you ever look into students' eyes in class? Don't push this country towards paralysis," said Farhan Atif, a KUET batch 15 student.
Protesters temporarily occupied Shahbagh for five minutes during their march, warning that their actions would intensify if their demands remain unaddressed. They accused KUET's administration of choosing repression over dialogue, filing what they described as false cases against protesters.
One DU student from Sir A.F. Rahman Hall questioned potential foreign influence behind the tensions: "I urge the government to force partisan VC Masud of KUET to resign immediately so students can return to their studies. It is said the VC has influence reaching all the way to London. We want to know if this suppression is being carried out under London's provocation."
Mahi, a former KUET Mechanical batch 14 student, expressed surprise at the protests: "We didn't expect such protests from KUET students after 5 August. The administration has failed to provide any logical explanation for suspensions and cases."
Another KUET student stated, "Thirty-two students have been on hunger strike for over 25 hours, with three already hospitalised. In independent Bangladesh, we haven't seen such a shameless VC. They attacked the July protesters with machetes and hockey sticks. Educational institutions must be free from terror and political exploitation. A new VC must be appointed urgently, and justice must be ensured. If the student adviser-representatives of the interim government do not stand with the students, they should not call themselves student representatives."
