A total of 37 students of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) have been suspended for their alleged involvement in clashes that occurred on February 18 and 19.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the university's syndicate held last night.

Kuet's Public Relations Officer Shaheduzzaman Sheikh said the report, which was submitted by the investigation committee formed in February, was presented during the meeting. Based on the findings, the syndicate decided to suspend the 37 students and instructed that the matter be referred to the university's Student Disciplinary Committee for further action.

The syndicate also decided to reopen all residential halls for students on May 2 and resume academic activities from May 4.

However, the protesting students expressed dissatisfaction with the decisions. They announced that they would continue their sit-in demonstration in front of the administrative building until the halls are reopened.

The students have been demonstrating since 3:00pm on Sunday and continued their protest for the second consecutive day on Monday.

The agitating students said their demand was to reopen the halls from last night. They also complained that they were waiting for the authorities to formally inform them of the syndicate's decisions, but no official announcement was made. Instead, the university officials left the premises through a back gate after the meeting, avoiding the waiting students at the main gate, the protesters alleged.

Students also said the prolonged closure of academic activities is hampering their studies. Many of them have lost tuition opportunities as they cannot stay in the halls.

On February 18, a clash broke out between two student groups on the Kuet campus. One side, under the banner of general students, accused Chhatra Dal of attacking their anti-student-politics protest using outsiders. On the other hand, Chhatra Dal claimed that activists of the anti-discrimination student movement, under the guise of general students, along with Shibir members, attacked them.

Following the incident, students began boycotting classes and launched a movement with six demands, including the resignation of the vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor, and the director of student welfare, and a complete ban on student politics on campus.

On February 23, a group of students submitted their six-point demand in writing to Kuet's chief adviser in Dhaka. Later, on February 25, the university syndicate decided to shut down all academic and administrative activities indefinitely and ordered all students to vacate the halls. At the same time, a three-member probe committee was formed to investigate the incident.