25 students, cops injured in clash at DUET over joining of new VC

At least 25 people, including five policemen, were injured in a clash between two groups on the campus of Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) today (17 May), centring on the joining of newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Iqbal.

The unrest began after the government appointed Mohammad Iqbal of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology as the new vice-chancellor (VC) of DUET, witnesses said.

Soon after the announcement, a section of students rejected the appointment and demanded that a vice-chancellor be appointed from within DUET.

Prof Iqbal was scheduled to join office today. Since morning, some students had been demonstrating against the appointment and declared him “persona non grata” on the campus.

The protesters locked the university’s main gate and observed a “red card” programme demanding cancellation of the appointment, witnesses said.

Meanwhile, some students supporting the new VC gathered outside the campus, triggering tension between the two groups.

At one stage, a clash broke out between the groups, leaving at least 25 people injured.

Aminul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station, said police were trying to bring the situation under control.

As DUET is a specialised engineering university, the protesting students argued that teachers from the institution have a better understanding of its academic and administrative structure.

They said appointing a VC from among DUET teachers would help ensure the university’s overall development, research activities and academic environment.