No VC, no pay: Kuet staff struggle ahead of Eid amid prolonged shutdown

All financial operations at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) have come to a halt due to the absence of an authorised signatory, following the back-to-back removal and resignation of two vice-chancellors amid campus unrest.

The university has been without a vice-chancellor since May 21, following the resignation of interim VC Prof Md Hazrat Ali.

Before that, the government removed former VC Prof Muhammad Masud and pro-VC Prof Shariful Alam in the wake of a violent clash on campus on February 18.

With academic activities suspended for 99 consecutive days and no authorised official to approve transactions, the salaries, allowances and Eid-ul-Azha bonuses for more than 1,100 teachers, officers, and staff remain unpaid.

This includes around 500 low-income employees who are now in financial distress just days before the festival.

The university's accounts office said the signature of the VC is required for processing all payments—including monthly bills for over 350 teachers, 200 officers, and 500 support staff.

Even bills related to development projects have been frozen.

Thirty outsourced security guards have not received their salaries for April either.

"We work for very low wages. With Eid approaching, we don't know how we'll manage with our children," said Md Suman Sardar, supervisor of the security staff.

The crisis has also affected Kuet's development work.

Zulfikar Hossain, director of the Tk 600 crore infrastructure and academic expansion project, said payments to contractors could not be released due to the lack of authorisation.

"After the removal of VC Masud, the interim VC did not sign any bills. Contractors are already slowing down, and work may stop entirely after Eid if no solution comes," he warned.

Md Moinul Haque, deputy registrar and president of the Officers' Association, said if the situation continues, officers and staff might be forced to protest on the streets.

Kuet teachers have also expressed concern.

Prof Md Golam Kader, head of the leather engineering department, said, "Following the February 18 attack, some teachers were assaulted. Yet, without any investigation, both the VC and pro-VC were removed. Kuet is now without a guardian."

Prof Md Faruq Hossain, general secretary of the Teachers' Association, said, "We are without leadership. Our students are eager to resume classes, and so are we. But the university must ensure justice first, and that is not possible without a vice-chancellor."

The unrest at Kuet began on February 18, when a clash broke out between students and outsiders during a protest demanding a ban on student politics.

The incident left former VC Masud and over 100 students injured.

All university activities were suspended following the clash.

Then, students launched a movement with five demands, which later evolved into a single demand for the VC's resignation.

On April 23, students began a hunger strike that prompted the government to remove the VC and pro-VC on April 25.

Later on May 1, Prof Hazrat Ali from Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) was appointed as interim VC.

However, on May 4, Kuet teachers suspended academic activities demanding justice for the February 18 incident in which teachers were allegedly harassed.

Thirty-seven students were given show-cause notices for their alleged involvement with the clash. Following that, the students went on protests.

The interim VC left campus last week and resigned from his post on May 21, leaving Kuet without leadership once again.