Why Kuet VC, Pro-VC relieved under pressure?

We had expected that after the mass uprising, we would get a campus and educational institutions free of politics; but on the contrary, since the mass uprising, politics has been cemented in the educational institutions. It is more appropriate to call it a mob than politics - where there is no due process, no proper investigation; whenever any party opposes someone, they force him to resign from his post in the face of various protests. After the mass uprising, we have seen that many teachers, principals and vice-chancellors of schools, colleges and universities have been forced to resign on the charges of having links with the Awami League government. The vice-chancellors and pro vice-chancellors of almost all government universities have been removed and new vice-chancellors and pro vice-chancellors have been appointed; But seven months after their appointment, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) Vice-Chancellor Professor Muhammad Masud and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor SK Shariful Alam have been forced to resign under pressure.

According to information received through the media, several students have alleged that more than a hundred people were injured in a clash at KUET on February 18 over demands to ban student politics. The next day, students locked all academic buildings, including the administrative building. That afternoon, a syndicate meeting decided to ban all political activities at KUET. On February 25, all residential halls were closed indefinitely. After that, students took up positions in front of the administrative building from the afternoon of April 13 demanding the opening of residential halls. On the night of April 14, a syndicate meeting decided to temporarily expel 37 students for their involvement in the clash. Following this incident, a 24-hour ultimatum was given to the vice-chancellor to resign last Sunday. The students announced a hunger strike from last Monday after Vice Chancellor Muhammad Masud did not resign within the stipulated time.

If we look into the whole matter a little, a few questions inevitably come to mind. One, why would there be a clash over the demand to stop student politics? This is a policy decision. Two, why would the students lock all academic buildings, including the administrative building? Is this a matter of coercion? Three, why was the decision taken to expel 37 students in droves for their involvement in the clash? Couldn't this problem have been resolved through discussion? Or could some other punishment not have been decided. It seems that every issue is being decided as an extreme decision. There is no further thought before that.

In the meantime, we saw that on one side, students held protest marches, while on the other side, teachers formed human chains. When the students implemented a programme, the teachers' association took up a counter-programme. Teachers also protested against various programmes. In other words, there is no opportunity for discussion. Counter-protest marches seem to be the only solution.

Yesterday, Thursday (April 24), it was reported in some media outlets that the Vice-Chancellor was finally forced to resign in the face of strong student protests; but yesterday afternoon, pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam told the media that he did not resign, nor did he receive any letter regarding his resignation. On the other hand, the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) Teachers' Association has commented that the decision to dismiss the Vice-Chancellor and pro Vice-Chancellor under pressure without a fair investigation has defeated justice.

Although one problem has been solved through the removal of the Vice-Chancellor, education-related people believe that another crisis has been created. The question is how teachers will face students in the classroom and what the teacher-student relationship will be like in the future.

All in all, the condition of all educational institutions in Bangladesh is actually delicate. The black shadow of the politics from which the students had organized a mass uprising to get rid of the terrible politics seems to surround them. No one knows on which complaint the demand for the resignation of any Vice-Chancellor was raised. The situation is so tense. We want such a tense situation to end in the educational field. Teachers and students should solve the problem through discussion and negotiation instead of face to face. Let the educational field be free from the black shadow of politics.