Students block Shahbagh demanding KUET VC’s resignation

Students from Dhaka University, BUET, and other institutions have blocked Dhaka’s Shahbagh demanding the resignation of Muhammad Mashud, the vice-chancellor (VC) of the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET).

Around 10pm on Tuesday, a procession was taken from the Dhaka University campus to Shahbagh.

Later, students from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and other institutions joined the blockade protest.

The agitated students were chanting slogans such as, "fire on the VC's chair at the KUET”, "fire on the chair of the Dalal (Agent) VC”, and "one demand, one slogan: resignation of the KUET VC”.

They also raised slogans like, "Education and terrorism cannot go together” and "Education and the use of weapons cannot go together”.

Musaddik Ali Ibn Muhammad, a student from the Bengali department, said: "We have one demand: the resignation of the KUET VC. We will continue our blockade until he resigns."

Tensions at the university have been high since Feb 18, when clashes broke out between the Chhatra Dal – the BNP’s student wing - and supporters of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement on campus over a demand to halt student politics.

More than 50 students were injured in the clashes.

A total 37 students from the KUET were temporarily expelled over their alleged involvement in the clash.

Following this, students began a hunger strike demanding the VC’s resignation.

Md Mushfiquzzaman, a protesting student from the Department of Information Science and Library Management, remarked: "In blood-soaked Bangladesh, no rights are earned easily, and that's why we have taken this path.

“While this protest might cause some temporary inconvenience if it leads to the resignation of the ‘Dalal’ VC, it will be a message of hope for all campuses and a warning to the occupiers," he said.

Ashikur Rahman Rafi, a student from the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies, said: "When the wall is at our back, we have no other option. We didn’t get the expected results even after holding peaceful protests."

He said, "Although two students are part of the advisory council, they haven't said anything in support of KUET students. That’s why we have chosen to block Shahbagh today.”

“If the KUET VC is not removed, we will continue our protest," he added.