Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) has been in a state of crisis for more than four months. Student safety, administrative complications, political divisions among teachers, and controversies over investigations – Kuwait today is the name of a terrible stalemate. In these four months, teaching has been stopped, examinations have been stopped, research activities have been suspended and thousands of students have been pushed into extreme uncertainty.
February 18: Massive attack on campus
An unprecedented attack took place on the Kuwait campus on February 18, 2025. The assailants attacked the students with sticks, rods and swords. Hundreds of students and teachers were injured. The students claimed that the attackers were affiliated with BNP-Chhatra Dal and carried out terrorism on the campus in a pre-planned manner.
6-point demand
The students mounted their protests after the incident. However, in the first phase, they presented their demands peacefully. On the evening of 18 February, the students presented a total of six demands, including banning student politics on the campus, expelling the students involved in the attack and filing cases against the identified attackers, ensuring security on the campus. On February 19, the students locked the administrative and academic buildings as they did not accept the demands. However, the campus remained tense as the demand was not accepted.
Memorandum and Signature
A memorandum with the signatures of about five thousand students was sent to the principal advisor. But the KUET government did not take any action in this regard. Later, the administration declared the residential halls closed for an indefinite period.
New wave of movement after Eid, administrative response more harsh
After the Eid vacation, the students returned to the campus and started the movement again. The students have been sleeping in front of the administrative building for several nights demanding the reopening of the hall. At the same time, the administration has taken a firm stand. To stop the movement, a case of assault on a local resident and chain-snatching was filed and 37 students were expelled on the recommendation of the investigation committee – whose names were initially not known to the university administration or the teaching community. But sensationally, the Dhaka Central Chhatra Dal president named seven of the 37 as Chhatra Dal activists at a press briefing, raising suspicions of a direct political link to the incident and the investigation. Thirty-seven students went on a hunger strike to demand the removal of Kuwaiti Vice-Chancellor Prof. Masud. The education adviser went to the Kuwait campus to talk to the students, the UGC delegation talked to all the parties and investigated. Fifty-four hours after the hunger strike, Professor Tanzimuddin Khan, part of the UGC delegation, read out a written press release to the students, stating that the removal of Kuwaiti Vice-Chancellor Professor Mashud had begun. A few days later, he was officially fired.
Controversy over the investigation committee and the spontaneous accountability of the students
The students have been protesting against the committee since the beginning. They alleged that the committee was not transparent and impartial. However, the administration has retained the controversial investigation committee without taking any of the students into consideration. On the basis of the committee’s report, show-cause notices were issued to 30 agitators. The students immediately protested and demanded an impartial judicial inquiry committee.
Attempts to clear air around new acting VC fail
The newly appointed acting vice-chancellor took a detailed presentation from the students about the interviews, information, photos, videos, first-hand experience and the biassed role of the investigation committee. The students narrated the incident through a projector. The students highlighted how their movement was suppressed under political pressure.
But due to the non-cooperation of the teachers and the pressure created by them, this acting vice-chancellor also became virtually ineffective and was forced to resign in the wake of the teachers’ association movement.
The dream of a parting batch
The most affected is the outgoing 2K19 batch. Many have lost their scholarships due to not receiving transcripts or necessary documents from Kuwait despite receiving offers for PhD or Master’s. You can’t apply for government jobs, you can’t fill BCS or PSC forms. Many students come from poor rural families – for them this complication is not just an academic problem, but a threat to the future of their lives and families.
A defunct university: where is the solution
At present, Kuwait is administratively almost empty. A section of teachers still want the students to be judged as per the previous investigation report and are refraining from participating in academic activities. Despite repeated appeals, the students did not attend the classes. Rather, the process of appointing a new vice-chancellor is again indicating a long delay, which is further complicating the situation.
Fast solution is the only way.
Students, parents and teachers have demanded the reopening of schools immediately. An independent and impartial judicial commission should be set up. Those responsible must be held accountable.
“” “If an entire batch of a university does not get a degree, it affects not only them but the nation.” It’s not too late, it’s time to make a decision. ‘- A parent, Kuwait
Md Obaidullah (4th year EEE category) Sheikh Mujahid (4th year EEE category) Mohan Ali (4th year Textile category) Ghalib Rahat (4th year EEE category) Tawfiq Tamim (4th year Leather category) Rahatul Islam (3rd year Civil category) Abdullah Al Saikat (3rd year EEE category) Mohiuzzaman Upal (3rd year IEM category)