Students Return to Classrooms at KUET After Five Months, But Teachers Remain Absent Stalemate Continues Amid Absence of Vice-Chancellor

Khulna, July 20, 2025:
Despite the passage of five months since a violent clash over student politics, the academic deadlock at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) shows no sign of resolution. The absence of a vice-chancellor has further complicated the crisis, leaving administrative efforts stalled. As a result, nearly 7,500 students are trapped in academic uncertainty and at risk of a prolonged session jam.

Today, Sunday (July 20), students of the 2021-22 academic batch returned to classrooms after a long hiatus, responding to a call on social media. However, faculty members have yet to resume classes.

A post on the Facebook page "Roktoakto KUET" (Bleeding KUET) on Saturday (July 19) urged students to return: “Let us leave behind all negativity and return to our classes with a positive mindset. Our teachers have wished us well—they cannot turn their backs on us. Now is the time to move forward.”

After returning to the classrooms, students held discussions with faculty members regarding the resumption of academic activities. According to students, teachers expressed sincerity about restarting classes but emphasized the need for a conducive environment. The faculty also appreciated the students’ initiative and assured them that classes and examinations would resume once conditions were appropriate.

Meanwhile, guardians have also taken action, demanding academic activities resume. On Thursday (July 17), a group named Guardian Forum submitted a memorandum to the chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC). Today, they are scheduled to form a human chain in front of the KUET administrative building.

Asir Muntakim Ferdous, a student from the 2021 batch, stated, “We have returned to class almost out of compulsion. We’ve already lost five months of our academic life. Before the former VC was removed, a syndicate decision was made to resume classes on May 4. Since then, no further decision has been made to keep the classes suspended. Legally, there’s no barrier for our teachers to teach. We’re telling them—we’re here, kindly come and start teaching.”

KUET’s Director of Student Welfare, Professor Abdullah Elias Akhtar, said, “Without a vice-chancellor, major decisions cannot be made. While classes could technically resume, who will take responsibility if things spiral out of control afterward?”

It is worth noting that the crisis began on February 18 when a violent clash broke out over demands to ban student politics, injuring over a hundred individuals. Following widespread protests, both the vice-chancellor and pro-vice-chancellor were removed. On May 1, Professor Hazrat Ali of CUET was appointed as acting VC but resigned on May 22 amid faculty opposition.

Although a new recruitment circular for the VC position was published on June 10, the appointment process has not progressed. The situation became so dire that the UGC granted temporary financial authority to Mohammad Zaminur Rahman, Director of Public University Management, allowing KUET to process salaries until July 15.

With the university administration in limbo, academic activities stalled, and teacher-student divisions widening, one of the country’s top engineering institutions remains paralyzed. While students are returning to the classrooms, faculty members remain hesitant—highlighting the urgent need for decisive administrative intervention.

Source: The Daily Campus