Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) has suspended 37 students over their alleged involvement in a clash with BNP activists.
The university will resume academic activities on May 4, and residential halls will reopen on May 2.
The decision was made during an emergency syndicate meeting held on Monday evening.
The meeting, which began at 7pm and continued until 10pm, concluded with the release of a statement at 11:05pm, signed by Shaheduzzaman Sheikh, public relations officer (additional duty) of Kuet. He confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune.
According to the statement, the syndicate reviewed the report of the committee formed during its 98th emergency meeting on February 19. The report addressed the clashes that occurred on February 18–19. Based on the findings, 37 students were temporarily suspended. The matter has also been referred to the university’s student disciplinary committee for further action.
It was further decided that all academic activities will resume on May 4, with halls reopening for students on May 2.
Earlier on Sunday afternoon, students re-entered the campus and demanded that the halls be reopened by 8pm. Around 5pm, they submitted a written appeal in front of the administrative building, which was received by Rafiqul Islam, Dean of the EEE faculty. When the halls remained closed past the deadline, students staged an overnight sit-in. Their protests continued as the administration remained unresponsive, prompting the emergency meeting.
While the meeting was underway, students marched across campus demanding hall access. The procession began around 7pm and circled the Durbar Bangla sculpture before returning to the administrative building for a sit-in.
After the march, students held a press briefing. A representative read a statement saying they had been informed of the meeting through the Assistant Director of the Office of Student Welfare. “We hope the administration will issue a notice tonight to reopen the halls so we no longer have to sleep under the open sky,” the student said. “Failing that, we’ll announce tougher protests.”
The briefing also warned the administration not to make decisions that appear politically motivated or targeted at the general student, or they would face stronger movements.
The February 18 clash reportedly stemmed from student demands to ban campus politics. Over 100 students were injured. The next day, students locked the academic and administrative buildings. That afternoon, the syndicate banned all political activity on campus and formed a probe committee. A case was filed that night at Khan Jahan Ali Police Station against 400–500 unnamed individuals. On February 25, all halls were closed indefinitely.
Meanwhile, last Thursday, a resident of Maheshwarpasha Uttar Bonikpara named Hosen Ali filed a case in a Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court against 22 Kuet students. The court accepted the complaint and directed police to investigate.