The vice-chancellor of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Professor Md Hazrat Ali, has resigned 17 days after his appointment to the position amid teachers’ protests.
Officials of the university and the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh said on Thursday that Professor Hazrat Ali submitted his resignation letter to the Ministry of Education on Wednesday.
His resignation, however, failed to bring an end to the impasse in the university’s academic activities as the teachers on Thursday vowed to continue their boycott of the classes and other academic activities.
The teachers are now protesting at the assaults on them and demanding the restoration of law and order situation on the campus.
The stalemate that began on February 19 following the February 18 violent clash between Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Students Against Discrimination over banning on-campus student politics reached 93th day on Thursday.
Professor Hazrat Ali remained absent on the KUET campus since May 19, the day when the KUET Teachers’ Association began a sit-in programme in front of the vice-chancellor’s office demanding the restoration of order on the campus and protesting at the VC’s silence in this regard.
The teachers’ sit-in continued till Wednesday.
KUET science and humanities faculty dean Professor Md Abul Kalam Azad, who was observing the routine role as the vice-chancellor during the VC’s absence, said on Thursday that Professor Hazrat Ali submitted his resignation to the education ministry on Wednesday.
‘He did not come to the university since May 19,’ he said and added that Professor Hazrat Ali went back to Chattogram to join CUET.
KUET Teachers’ Association general secretary Professor Md Faruk Hossain said that the university registrar Md Anisur Rahman Bhuiyan also confirmed them the vice-chancellor had resigned from his position.
Professor Faruk said that they, on Wednesday, expressed no confidence in Professor Hazrat Ali.
‘We formed a human chain today,’ he said on Thursday and added that they would continue their protests by boycotting classes and administrative activities until their demands for punishment for attacks on them and the restoration of law and order situation on the campus were met.
UGC chairman Professor SMA Faiz said that he had heard that Professor Hazrat Ali had submitted his resignation letter to the education ministry on Wednesday.
The ministry officials concerned and the KUET registrar could not be reached over the phone.
On February 25, a week after the February 18 clashes, KUET authorities announced the closure of the university for an indefinite period ‘in the interest of ensuring students’ overall safety’.
The authorities on April 14 temporarily expelled 37 students for their alleged involvement in February 18 clashes and a section of students on April 15 began demonstrations on the campus demanding the removal of the then vice-chancellor and protesting at the expulsion of the students.
Amid the students’ protests, the government published notices on April 25 removing the then KUET vice-chancellor Professor Mohammad Mashud and pro-vice-chancellor Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam from their posts.
The government on May 4 issued a gazette notification appointing Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology Professor Md Hazrat Ali as the KUET’s acting vice-chancellor.
The classes in KUET were also scheduled to resume on May 4, but the teachers refused to conduct classes and administrative work, demanding the punishment of all those involved in assaulting them.
