United News of Bangladesh

Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) authorities on Wednesday suspended academic activities until February 28 amid growing tensions between two groups of students over the demand for banning student politics on its campus. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the university syndicate, officials told UNB. The authorities also decided to expel the students involved in Tuesday’s attack, file cases against outsiders, bear the medical expenses of the injured and ensure the safety of students. Tension high on Kuet campus after clashes over student politics Earlier, some students locked the university’s administrative and academic buildings at 1:30 pm, to press home their 6-point demand, including the resignation of Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Mohammad Masud. A tense situation has been prevailing on the campus as some students confined the VC to the administrative building. Tensions mounted on the campus on Wednesday morning, a day after clashes between ‘general students’ and BNP’s student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) over the demand for banning student politics. The ‘general students’, however, on Tuesday night placed a-five point demand, including resignation of the VC, pro-VC and students’ affairs director. Clashes erupt at Kuet over banning student politics; BGB deployed They threatened to boycott classes and exams, if their demands are not met by 1pm on Wednesday. At 11:30pm, the ‘general students’ also brought out a protest rally and warned that no student politics on the campus would be allowed. They demanded that those attacked them be brought to justice immediately. Earlier, on Tuesday afternoon, at least 50 students were injured in a series of clashes between ‘general students’ and the JCD activists over banning student politics on the campus. Protests, counter-protests in Dhaka over chaos ignited by JCD programme at KUET The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement (ADSM) and students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) held a protest rally on Tuesday night against what they described as the terrorist attack by Chhatra Dal on Kuet students. ADSM organised the rally at Dhaka University's Raju Sculpture, while Buet students gathered at their Shaheed Minar on Tuesday evening.

President of Islami Chhatra Shibir Zahidul Islam has criticised the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), stating that they are taking the wrong path. His remarks came in response to the recent student clashes at Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (Kuet). On Tuesday (18 Feb) night, Zahidul Islam posted a statement on Facebook under the title "An Appeal to Chhatra Dal", in which he asserted that Shibir does not consider JCD as an adversary but rather shares a common struggle against fascism. "We have tried multiple times—both directly and strategically—to make them understand the necessity of learning from the past and returning to constructive student politics," Zahid wrote. DU Chhatra Shibir demands DUCSU election roadmap announcement by Jan He further alleged that JCD is not paying heed to their call and is instead moving forward under the advice of the same "fascists and their Shahbagh allies." Referring to the recent Kuet incident, he questioned, "How does today's incident differ from the actions of the Chhatra League in July and August?" The Shibir president reiterated that his organisation does not deny the sacrifices made by JCD, whether big or small, but criticised them for continuing down the same mistaken path. Urging JCD to abandon a "possessive attitude" and embrace student politics focused on education and service, he concluded, "Contribute to building a new Bangladesh within your capacity."