It's not up to me, says KUET VC about resignation

Students of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) are continuing their hunger strike with the sole demand for the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Masud.

However, the Vice-Chancellor has stated that the matter of resignation does not depend on him.

He said this during a conversation with a media outlet on Wednesday (April 23).

Professor Masud said, “I was appointed by the government. Now, if the government thinks I am not suitable for this position, of course, I won't be able to stay. It completely depends on the government. It's no longer up to me.”

Meanwhile, KUET’s protesting students said that many of the students participating in the hunger strike have fallen ill and have been admitted to the hospital.

In a development of events, the temporary suspension orders of 37 KUET students have been withdrawn. Additionally, seven residential halls have been reopened. These decisions were made at a syndicate meeting of the university on Wednesday. Classes are scheduled to resume on May 4.

Earlier, on April 15, protesting students broke the locks of six male residential halls. On Tuesday evening, female students also entered Rokeya Hall after breaking its lock.

Amid the ongoing protest demanding the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor, Education Adviser CR Abrar arrived at the KUET campus today around 9:45am. He requested the fasting students to withdraw their hunger strike. However, the students have continued their protest. Out of the 32 students participating in the hunger strike, seven have fallen ill and received medical treatment.

Meanwhile, at noon today, the university's Teachers' Association held a press briefing in the conference room, stating they would not accept the forced removal of the Vice-Chancellor. Later, around 3:30pm, the Employees' Association formed a human chain in support of the Vice-Chancellor.

On February 18, over a hundred people were injured during clashes related to demands for a ban on student politics at KUET. The following day, students locked the administrative and all academic buildings. That same afternoon, during a syndicate meeting, a decision was made to suspend all forms of political activities on campus. On February 25, all residential halls were declared closed indefinitely.

Later, on April 13, students began a sit-in protest in front of the administrative building, demanding the reopening of the residential halls.