Prof Hazrat Ali appointed as acting KUET vice-chancellor

Prof Md Hazrat Ali has been appointed as the acting vice-chancellor of the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET).

He is a civil engineering department professor at the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET).

He was given the responsibility in a notification issued by the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education of the education ministry on Thursday.

In the face of student protests, the education ministry relieved former KUET VC Muhammad Mashud and deputy VC SK Shariful Alam from their duties on Apr 25.

Prof Hazrat has been tasked with performing routine duties until a permanent VC is appointed, according to an official notification signed by Senior Assistant Secretary ASM Kashem.

The notification mentions he will receive the same salary and allowance as his current position as well as other benefits per the rules.

He will be on the university campus full-time as the university's chief executive officer.

The president and chancellor can cancel this appointment at any time if deemed necessary.

Mashud is a professor at KUET’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and Shariful at the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE).

After the Awami League government was ousted in the wake of a mass uprising on Aug 5, 2024, Mashud was appointed as KUET VC in September and Shariful as the deputy VC in December.

On Feb 18, over the demand to end student politics, clashes broke out between the Chhatra Dal members and the supporters of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement on the campus, leaving over 50 students injured.

The university's syndicate meeting decided to suspend all political activities at KUET, and a committee was formed to investigate the incident.

In continuation of events, a 24-hour ultimatum was announced on Apr 20 for the VC’s resignation.

When the resignation announcement was not made within the stipulated time, some students went on a hunger strike.

On Apr 23, the university's syndicate meeting decided to withdraw the expulsion order of 37 KUET students and reopen all the residential halls.

It was also decided the university's academic activities would begin on May 4 per the previous decision.

The protesting students remained adamant in their decision until the VC was removed.

In this situation, three members of a committee formed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) went to the KUET campus, where they broke the students' hunger strike by sending a message of the removal of both the VC and the deputy VC.