Khulna University students have announced they are withdrawing their ongoing protest and their boycott of classes and exams. After the university administration took positive steps on their three-point demand, they have decided to return to all academic and administrative activities from Sunday (2 August).
In a statement on Friday (31 July), the students said the protest was being suspended for now as the administration’s progress on implementing the demands was satisfactory. They will, however, closely monitor full implementation, and warned that a new, tougher programme would be announced if any delay or non-cooperation were seen in future.
Earlier, at a meeting with the university administration on 24 July, the students had presented their three-point demand and announced a boycott of all academic and administrative activities until the demands were met. Several rounds of talks followed, but without a satisfactory outcome, the students padlocked various university buildings. The locks were later removed on the administration’s assurances, though the boycott of classes and exams continued.
The university’s director of student affairs, Professor Md Salauddin, said: “From the outset the administration has considered the students’ reasonable demands seriously. The administration is relieved that the students have decided to return to classes and exams.”
On the night of 22 July, students detained canteen worker Imam Hasan on an allegation of secretly filming female students through the ventilator of the toilets and bathrooms at Bijoy-24 Hall. He was later handed over to police. His wife was also arrested in the same case. The allegation is untested in court.
Students launched their protest demanding a proper trial in the case, action against two teachers accused of sexual harassment, and cancellation of the registration of the Spandan-24 club.
After continued protests, a series of meetings with the administration, an inquiry and a syndicate decision, the students — satisfied with the progress on the three-point demand — decided to return to classes and exams from Sunday. They have said, however, that they will take to the streets again if the demands are not fully implemented.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report