The Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) administration has expelled five students and issued warnings to 32 others for violating disciplinary rules on the campus during violent clashes on 18 and 19 February.

Confirming the matter today (22 September), Professor BM Ikramul Haque, director of Student Welfare and member secretary of the Student Disciplinary Committee, told The Business Standard, “Five students have been penalised — one for a year and four for six months. In addition, 32 others have been formally warned, and their respective departments have been notified.”

The university authorities handed the letters of punishment to the students, following a decision taken at a meeting of the disciplinary committee yesterday.

According to university sources, MSc student Salim Sadman has been expelled for one year. The four others expelled for six months are — Omar Bin Hossain from the Leather Engineering department, Shanto Islam and Md Ridoy of the Textile Engineering department, and Safwan Ahmed Ifaz from the Electronics and Communication Engineering department.

The decision followed an investigation into an untoward incident that occurred on campus on 18 February. An emergency syndicate meeting held on 25 February formed a probe committee, which later submitted its report.

Based on the findings, the disciplinary committee held multiple meetings between 25–27 August and 21 September to review the investigation report, charges, video evidence, and responses to show-cause notices before unanimously deciding on the punishments.

February clashes

Earlier on 18 February, clashes erupted at Kuet over demands to ban student politics, leaving over a hundred injured. The next day, students locked all academic and administrative buildings. During an emergency syndicate meeting that afternoon, Kuet authorities decided to halt all political activities on campus and formed a committee to investigate the clashes. That night, the administration filed a case against 400-500 unnamed individuals with Khanjahan Ali Police Station.

On 20 February, students held a protest rally on campus, displaying red cards to all political student organisations and demanding the vice-chancellor’s resignation.

On 23 February, students travelled from Khulna to Dhaka to submit a memorandum to the Chief Adviser, demanding the trial of those involved in the attacks, the VC’s resignation, and six other points.

On 25 February, Kuet’s highest policy-making body, the syndicate, decided to close all residential halls indefinitely during its 99th emergency meeting. Students were ordered to vacate the halls by 10am the next day, prompting further protests on campus.

On 14 April, at the 101st (emergency) syndicate meeting of Kuet, 37 students were temporarily expelled.

“Following the unfortunate incidents at Kuet on 18 February and 19 February, an investigation committee was formed at the 98th [emergency] syndicate meeting on 19 February. Their sealed report was presented to the syndicate and accepted. The decision was made to expel 37 students accused of involvement in the incident temporarily,” said Shaheduzzaman Sheikh, public relations officer (additional duty) of Kuet that day.

At the same time, the matter was referred to the university’s Student Disciplinary Committee for necessary action, according to the investigation report.

Additionally, it was decided that all residential halls would reopen for students on 2 May, with classes resuming on 4 May.

Meanwhile, on 10 April, a person named Hochen Ali from the Maheshwarpasha North Banikapara area of the city filed a case against 22 Kuet students in the Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court.