The crisis at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) shows no signs of resolution as protests by students and the boycott of classes by faculty members continue. Though academic activities were supposed to resume on May 4, KUET enters its seventh working day without classes, as the standoff between students and teachers remains unresolved.

On Tuesday, May 13, students once again took to the campus in protest. Marching through various roads of the university, the demonstrators ended their rally in front of the administrative building. A similar protest was also held on Monday night, indicating the unrest is deepening.

Students raised slogans such as “We reject oppression, expulsion, and lawsuits,” “We reject this farcical investigation,” and “We won’t let our brothers' sacrifices go in vain.” The slogans reflected students’ frustration over what they describe as unjust treatment by university authorities.

The unrest stems from an incident on February 18, when general students were allegedly attacked on campus. Protesters claim no action has been taken against the attackers, but now 37 students are being targeted instead. On Monday, KUET authorities issued show-cause notices to these students, asking them to respond by 5 p.m. on May 15. The students argue that the allegations are baseless and politically motivated.

Rayhan, a student from Civil Engineering Batch 23, told Kalbela that the current unrest is being fueled by the unresolved aftermath of the February attack and the egos of certain faculty members aligned with the previous Vice-Chancellor. He asserted that students bled in an effort to keep KUET free of politics, yet their grievances remain unaddressed. Instead of seeking justice, the administration has moved to penalize students, a move that the general body of students refuses to accept.

The university authorities find themselves trapped in a dilemma. To encourage teachers to return to class, they must take disciplinary action against the students accused of misconduct. However, imposing such punishment risks intensifying the student protests. For nearly three months, KUET has been facing this administrative deadlock without any effective resolution in sight.

According to KUET Teachers’ Association President Professor Dr. Md. Shahidul Islam, instructors will not resume taking classes or conducting examinations until the students responsible for allegedly harassing teachers face disciplinary action. He further stated that if no action is taken by Thursday, faculty members may also stop participating in administrative functions.

In response, KUET’s Director of Student Welfare, Professor Dr. Abdullah Ilyas Akhtar, stated that a meeting of the university’s disciplinary committee had recently taken place, where show-cause notices were issued based on observations provided by an investigation committee. He added that students have the opportunity to present their evidence in response to the notices. If they can prove their innocence, they will not face punishment; if not, disciplinary action may follow.

Professor Akhtar noted that students had also recently organized a human chain protest demanding justice for the alleged harassment of teachers. According to him, the teachers want to return to the classroom but are waiting for the completion of disciplinary proceedings.

As the situation remains tense and unresolved, the fate of KUET’s academic future hangs in uncertainty. Both students and teachers continue to hold their ground, with no immediate resolution in sight.