Victory for Kuet students after 65 days of protest and 58 hours of hunger strike

After 65 days of relentless protests and a 58-hour-long hunger strike, students of Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) finally saw their key demand met. Just past midnight on 24 April, the government announced the initiation of the process to remove the university’s Vice-Chancellor- triggering scenes of jubilation across the campus.

“At around 1:15am, Tanzim Sir came and read out a letter from the Ministry of Education stating that the authoritarian VC is being removed,” said Rahatul Islam, a Civil Engineering student who had joined the hunger strike. “Since then, joy has swept through our campus. This victory was only possible because students from universities across Bangladesh stood beside us. If any VC behaves like a dictator again, we will rise up.”

The movement began after a violent clash on 18 February between KUET students and members of the BNP’s student wing, Chhatra Dal, alongside several outsiders. Over 100 students were injured, sparking an immediate lockdown of academic and administrative buildings by the students.

In response, the university syndicate suspended all political activities on campus and formed an investigation committee. That night, the administration filed a case with Khanjahan Ali Police Station against 400–500 unidentified individuals.

Students, however, blamed the Vice-Chancellor for failing to ensure campus safety and accused him of supporting the reintroduction of student politics. On 20 February, students held a protest rally, issuing ‘red cards’ to all political student organisations and demanding the VC’s resignation.

On 23 February, a delegation of students went to Dhaka and submitted a memorandum to the Chief Adviser of the interim government, listing six demands, including the removal of the VC and justice for the 18 February incident.

The 99th emergency syndicate meeting, held on 25 February, then ordered all residential halls to be shut indefinitely and directed students to vacate by 10am the next day, escalating tensions further. Students responded with a protest that would stretch for more than two months.

The breakthrough came with a notice from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, quoting the Ministry of Education, confirming that the process of removing both the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor had begun. A senior professor will be appointed as acting VC to ensure the university’s daily operations, while a search committee will be formed to select permanent replacements.

Earlier on 23 April at around 9:45am, Professor CR Abrar, adviser to the Ministry of Education, visited the campus and urged students to end their hunger strike. The students declined, citing ongoing grievances including water and internet disconnection in dormitories, suspension of 37 students, and legal action against them.

Prof Abrar, accompanied by two University Grants Commission (UGC) members, assured students that their concerns would be addressed. He left campus without meeting university officials or entering the administrative building, despite their request.

Later that day, the 102nd emergency syndicate meeting was convened, resulting in two major decisions: the suspension orders against the 37 students were withdrawn and all seven residential halls were officially reopened- although students had already re-entered the halls by breaking the locks.

The hunger strike began at 3pm on 21 April with 32 students. Five were hospitalised due to illness, and two returned home on health grounds.

Previously, at its 101st emergency meeting on 14 April, the syndicate had suspended 37 students in connection with the 18 February clash, based on a sealed report submitted by a committee formed during the 98th emergency meeting. The disciplinary committee was tasked with further action.

On 10 April, Hochen Ali, a resident of Khulna’s Maheshwarpasha North Banikapara area, filed a case against 22 KUET students in the Metropolitan Magistrate‍‍`s Court, accusing them of attacking him near the university gate and stealing his gold chain.

Students dismissed the case as fabricated and politically motivated. “It’s impossible for an outsider to know the names of 22 students without help from the administration,” they argued.

As the hunger strike ends and academic life gradually resumes, students are celebrating a hard-won victory that many hope will serve as a precedent across Bangladesh’s higher education landscape.