KUET deadlock continues as teachers strike post-reopening

Hopes for a return to normalcy at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) were dashed on Sunday as academic activities remained suspended despite the campus reopening after more than two months of closure.

Teachers at the university have launched a full-scale class boycott, demanding action against those responsible for the February 18 violence that led to an assault on the Vice-Chancellor and several faculty members. 

The protest has deepened the crisis, which originally stemmed from tensions between students and administration.

Md Abdullah Elias Akhtar, Director of Students' Welfare, confirmed that no classes were held due to the ongoing strike by the KUET Teachers' Association. "The Vice-Chancellor is currently in discussions with the teachers to resolve the situation," he said.

General Secretary of the Teachers' Association, Md Faruk Hossain, made their stance clear: "We will not step back until those involved in the February 18 incident are held accountable. We've informed the acting VC of our firm position."

The unrest began when a violent incident on campus escalated student protests, with demands for the resignation of the then VC, Pro-VC, and DSW. The situation led to a student hunger strike and eventually prompted the Ministry of Education to remove both the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-VC.

Professor Dr Md Hazrat Ali from CUET was appointed as KUET’s acting Vice-Chancellor on May 1 and officially took charge on May 3. His arrival had raised expectations of academic resumption, but the teachers' strike has stalled progress.

Students, who have already endured months of academic disruption, voiced growing frustration. "We’re losing precious time. If this continues, it will affect our graduation timeline and career plans," said one final-year student.

The administration now faces a mounting challenge: balancing accountability with academic continuity in order to restore stability at one of the country's leading engineering institutions.