Students of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), who had been on a hunger strike for nearly 58 hours demanding the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Professor Muhammad Masud, called off their protest in the early hours of 24 April.
The fast came to an end at 1:00am when University Grants Commission (UGC) member Professor Dr Tanzimuddin Khan ceremonially offered juice to the strikers, effectively breaking their fast. Following the intervention, students returned to their respective halls from the protest site.
The hunger strike, which began on 22 April, was the culmination of weeks of tension sparked by a campus clash on 18 February over demands to ban student politics. The altercation left over a hundred people injured and prompted students to lock down both academic and administrative buildings. The university syndicate subsequently announced a halt to all political activities on campus and, on 25 February, declared all residential halls closed indefinitely.
On 13 April, students resumed their agitation, demanding the reopening of halls and restoration of regular academic activities. Matters escalated after the syndicate decided on 14 April to temporarily suspend 37 students—an action widely condemned by student bodies.
In light of the deteriorating situation, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Mamunur Rashid, stated that steps were being taken to relieve both the vice-chancellor and the pro-vice-chancellor of their duties. A search committee will soon be formed to appoint successors.
To ensure continuity of academic operations, the Ministry of Education announced that a senior faculty member would be appointed acting vice-chancellor on an interim basis.
Despite mounting pressure from students of KUET and other institutions, including the University of Dhaka, Professor Masud had earlier declared that he would not resign unless directed by the government. His position appears increasingly tenuous amid widespread calls for reform and a return to academic normalcy.
