Khulna, Apr 24 (V7N)- In the wake of persistent student protests and an intensifying crisis at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Muhammad Machud and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. SK Shariful Alam have submitted their resignations.

The development was officially confirmed by the Ministry of Education on Thursday (April 24). According to the ministry, the decision came after multiple efforts by the government failed to resolve the issue, prompting a formal request for their resignations. The two university officials then took what the ministry described as a “principled decision” to step down.

Per protocol, their resignations will be sent to the Chancellor of the university, President Mohammed Shahabuddin, for final approval. Only then will the resignations become effective.

A press release issued by the ministry on Wednesday (April 23) night stated that steps were being taken to remove the VC and Pro-VC to resolve the escalating tensions and resume academic operations swiftly. A search committee will be formed soon to appoint successors.

In the interim, a senior professor will be appointed as acting Vice-Chancellor to maintain academic and administrative continuity.

Student unrest at KUET has been building for several months, reaching a critical point this April:

  • February 18: Clashes between Chhatra Dal and the anti-discrimination student movement led to the deaths of several students.

  • February 25: An emergency syndicate meeting suspended academic activities indefinitely and vacated student halls.

  • April 13: Students began demanding the reopening of halls.

  • April 14: The university syndicate temporarily expelled 37 students, further enraging the student body.

  • Since then, protests escalated, culminating in 32 students launching a hunger strike demanding the VC’s resignation.

The Ministry of Education's intervention and the resignations are seen as steps toward defusing the crisis and restoring normalcy on the KUET campus.

Students have so far welcomed the resignations but insist they will continue to monitor the situation until their full list of demands, including withdrawal of the student expulsions, is addressed.

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