Students have called for a boycott of classes in all educational institutions across the country (schools, colleges, and universities) demanding the resignation of Professor Mohammad Masud, Vice-Chancellor of Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET).
The announcement came from Musaddique Ali Ibne Mohammad, a student of the Bengali Department at Dhaka University, during the 'Shahbagh Blockade' program at midnight on Tuesday, stating that the class boycott would be observed on Wednesday (April 23rd).
At the time of the announcement, several hundred students from various institutions in the capital, including Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Jagannath University (JnU), Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology (CUET), Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET), and Dhaka College, were present.
DU student Musaddique said, "We will not attend any classes on Wednesday. Boycott classes in all schools, colleges, and universities across the country. Symbolic hunger strikes and sit-in programs will be held on all campuses in solidarity with the KUET students. Protest processions will be held on every campus. A protest rally will be held at the Raju Sculpture at three in the afternoon with a one-point demand."
Earlier, at 10:30 PM, protesting students blocked the Shahbagh intersection. After a blockade lasting one hour and 45 minutes, the protestors left Shahbagh at 12:15 AM after announcing the new program.
Meanwhile, a group of activists from the Bangladesh Democratic Students' Council's Dhaka University unit began a hunger strike at the base of the Raju Sculpture at Dhaka University, demanding the resignation of the KUET Vice-Chancellor.
Prior to this, on February 18th, a clash occurred at KUET between Chhatra Dal-Juba Dal activists and students and locals over a dispute regarding the demand to ban student politics. Many were injured in the incident. Following this, on February 25th, the syndicate meeting declared an indefinite suspension of academic activities and hall closures.
However, defying the authorities' ban, students entered the closed KUET campus on April 13th. Amidst this situation, the university authorities held an emergency syndicate meeting on the night of April 14th and temporarily expelled 37 students in connection with the violence.
Furthermore, the reopening of academic activities was announced for May 4th and residential halls for May 2nd. Rejecting this decision, students staged a sit-in in front of the administrative building that night. The next day, April 15th, they broke open the locks of one hall after another and entered. Simultaneously, they began a movement with the single demand for the removal of the Vice-Chancellor.
