Administrative activities resume at KU after three days

Administrative activities at Khulna University (KU) resumed this morning (26 July) after remaining suspended for three days following student protests over an incident in which a canteen worker was accused of secretly recording female students inside a washroom at Bijoy '24 Hall.

The university's academic and administrative activities came to a halt on 23 July after students locked the main gate and all academic and administrative buildings, demanding justice over the alleged invasion of privacy and stronger measures to ensure campus safety.

Female students of Bijoy '24 Hall allegedly caught a canteen worker secretly recording videos inside a washroom using a mobile phone on the night of 22 July.

The incident sparked outrage among students, who raised serious concerns over security and demanded immediate action.

Following the incident, the university administration handed over the canteen worker to law enforcement on 23 July. A case was also filed in this regard.

The university formed a three-member committee to investigate whether there was any negligence on the part of the dormitory authorities. The hall administration also constituted a separate five-member committee to examine the incident.

In response to the students' three-point demand, the university administration initiated a series of measures.

As part of the process, heads of all disciplines held meetings with their respective students yesterday. During the discussions, teachers expressed solidarity with the students' demand for ensuring justice for those responsible for the alleged sexual offence.

Later that evening, an emergency meeting chaired by KU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Md Rezaul Karim was held.

The meeting reviewed the outcomes of the discussions between teachers and students and reaffirmed support for the students' demands.

The meeting was also attended by the pro-vice-chancellor, treasurer, deans, heads of disciplines, director of student affairs, provosts and other university officials, all of whom expressed solidarity with the students.

Following the meeting, representatives of the university administration informed representatives of the 2022 batch students of the decisions taken and the administration's commitment to addressing their demands.

The university administration also urged students to return to classes and expressed its commitment to implementing the previously announced measures within the promised timeframe to restore the normal academic environment.

Subsequently, the students unlocked the university's main gate and all buildings to facilitate a fair investigation and allow official activities to resume from this morning.