The Bangladesh University Council, an organisation of vice-chancellors from over fifty public universities, has strongly condemned the physical assault on the Vice-Chancellor of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET). This incident occurred on 18 February on the KUET campus, when a group of students physically assaulted the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Muhammad Masud, who is also the esteemed President of the Bangladesh University Council.
The council expressed deep concern over this unwarranted violence, highlighting that such an attack on an honoured academic leader disrupts the peaceful environment of the university, which is unacceptable.
The council’s statement, signed by its treasurer and Vice-Chancellor of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Professor Dr. Mohammad Abdul Latif, declared that any form of violence, especially against vice-chancellors and teachers, is a heinous and shameful crime. The council insisted that physical assault and mistreatment of a vice-chancellor should be considered a punishable offence. They also called for a thorough, impartial investigation into the incident and demanded appropriate punishment for those responsible. Furthermore, the council urged all parties to resolve any disputes through dialogue and discussion.
Currently, there are 55 public universities operational in Bangladesh, with two additional universities approved, though their operations have not yet commenced.