The interim government has decided to relieve Professor Mohammad Mashud of his duties as vice-chancellor of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), following sustained student protests demanding his removal.
KUET Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Sk Shariful Alam will also be removed, according to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Communication released in the wee hours of Thursday (24 April).
“In view of the recent events at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, the process of relieving the vice-chancellor and pro-vice-chancellor of their duties has been initiated to resolve the ongoing crisis and resume educational activities without delay,” reads the statement, signed by the ministry's PRO Md Mamun Or Rashid.
The Ministry of Education added that a search committee will be formed immediately to appoint replacements, while one of the senior professors will assume the role of acting vice-chancellor to ensure academic continuity.
The announcement follows mounting protests that spread from KUET to universities across the country.
Students at Rajshahi University, Jahangirnagar University, the University of Dhaka (DU), and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) held hunger strikes and demonstrations in solidarity with KUET students.
Protesters at DU blocked the Shahbagh intersection, amplifying their call for the VC’s resignation.
On 23 April, KUET’s 102nd emergency syndicate meeting resolved to reopen seven residential halls previously shut on 25 February.
Earlier the same day, the university lifted the suspension of 37 students who had been expelled on 15 April for disciplinary violations during violent clashes on 18–19 February.
Despite appeals from a high-level delegation—including University Grants Commission (UGC) members and Education Ministry Adviser CR Abrar—KUET students refused to end their hunger strike, which began on 21 April with 32 participants. Several students have since been hospitalised due to deteriorating health conditions.
“We will not break our hunger strike unless the vice-chancellor resigns—even if it kills us,” a protesting student declared.
At a press conference on the KUET campus, the KUET Teachers’ Association voiced strong opposition to the removal of the VC under student pressure.
“If irregularities are found, the government may take action, but we oppose any forced resignation,” said General Secretary Md Faruk Hossain.
The association also condemned the Education Ministry for engaging only with students and vowed to abstain from academic duties until justice is served for assaulted faculty members.
The unrest stems from violent clashes at KUET on 18 February over demands to ban student politics, which left over 100 injured.
In the days that followed, the university suspended political activities, launched an investigation, and shut down residential halls.
Protests resumed after the university’s decision to expel 37 students and further intensified with the filing of a case on 10 April against 22 students at the Metropolitan Magistrate's Court.
According to university sources, all residential halls are set to reopen on 2 May, with academic activities scheduled to resume on 4 May.
