As the academic deadlock at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) stretches into its sixth month, a group of concerned guardians has stepped forward, urging immediate intervention from the Ministry of Education to rescue over 7,500 students from prolonged academic paralysis.
The KUET Guardian Forum, a platform of guardians based in Dhaka, submitted a formal memorandum to the education adviser yesterday, calling for urgent steps to restore normalcy at the university. Their primary demand: appoint a permanent vice-chancellor and resume both academic and administrative activities without further delay.
“We humbly appeal to you to act without delay, to save the students from irreparable academic loss and relieve their families from this prolonged distress,” the memorandum read.
The delegation, comprising Anwar Hossain, Hasan Julkar Nine, Md Jasim Uddin, and Bikash Kumar Shil, handed over the letter at the Secretariat, expressing alarm over the continued closure of one of the country’s most prestigious public engineering institutions.
Since February 18, when violent clashes between students and teachers erupted on campus, KUET has remained effectively shut down. The situation further deteriorated after the Ministry of Education removed Vice-Chancellor Prof Muhammad Masud and Pro-VC Prof Shariful Alam on April 25. Although Prof Md Hazrat Ali was appointed interim VC on May 1, he resigned within weeks, citing pressure and lack of institutional support.
The guardians’ statement paints a grim picture of the toll this stagnation is taking—not just on students’ futures, but on their mental well-being.
“In a country where a significant number of students take their own lives each year due to academic and familial pressure, this ongoing situation is unbearable,” it stated. “We are still healing from the scars of Covid-era shutdowns. Now, once again, our children are trapped at home, depressed and directionless.”
The memorandum also points out that students who began their undergraduate studies alongside KUET’s 2019 cohort at other institutions have already graduated, pursued higher studies, or entered the job market.
“Had these six months not been lost, many KUET students could have completed their degrees and started their professional journeys,” it said.
In the absence of a vice-chancellor, KUET’s administrative machinery has come to a halt. Crucial functions like salary disbursements, project implementation, research work, and academic decisions have been stalled, as the VC’s signature is legally required for all official actions.
The guardians warned that continued inaction risks permanent damage to KUET’s academic reputation both domestically and globally.
“Session jams are looming, research output is declining, and KUET’s standing in the international academic community is being compromised,” the statement added. “The silence from the authorities is deeply disheartening.”
As of now, both the vice-chancellor and pro-VC positions remain vacant. Students, teachers, and families wait—amid growing frustration, mental distress, and academic uncertainty.
