DUET Campus Erupts Over New VC Appointment Row

Tension escalated at Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology on Sunday as violent clashes broke out over the appointment of a new vice-chancellor, leaving several students injured and turning the campus into a scene of unrest.

The confrontation unfolded after the government appointed Professor Dr Mohammad Iqbal of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology as the new vice-chancellor of DUET, a move that sparked immediate opposition from a section of students.

The protests, which began on Thursday night, intensified on Sunday morning when hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the university’s Shaheed Minar to stage a “red card” protest programme demanding the withdrawal of the appointment decision.

Witnesses said the situation deteriorated rapidly when clashes erupted among protesting students, alleged outsiders and police personnel. Students claimed that activists linked to a student wing of a political party, accompanied by outsiders, attacked demonstrators during the protest, triggering panic across the campus.

Several students sustained injuries during the violence. Video footage shared on social media showed injured students being carried away from the scene and receiving treatment at nearby hospitals and medical facilities.

Protesting students reiterated their long-standing demand that the university’s vice-chancellor should be appointed from among DUET’s own faculty members. According to them, teachers from within the institution possess a deeper understanding of the university’s academic environment, administrative complexities and student concerns, making them better suited to lead the institution.

They also argued that appointing an internal academic would help ensure continuity in research, academic planning and infrastructure development, while preserving the university’s unique engineering-focused culture.

The clashes created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty on the campus, prompting many students to remain inside residential halls while others gathered in groups to continue demonstrations.

Officer-in-Charge Aminul Islam of Gazipur Metropolitan Police’s Sadar Police Station said law enforcement personnel were deployed on the campus and efforts were underway to restore order and prevent further escalation.

Security measures were tightened in and around the university area following the violence, while students vowed to continue their movement until their demands are addressed.

The latest unrest has added to growing tensions surrounding administrative appointments at public universities, where students and teachers have increasingly demanded greater transparency and institutional representation in leadership selection processes.