Khulna: Academic and development activities at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) have come to a standstill due to the absence of a Vice-Chancellor. Without the approval of a VC, the university is unable to utilize unspent funds under its current revenue budget. Officials warned that if the remaining allocations are not spent by June 30, the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year, KUET could face a significant financial setback.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, currently, development projects worth approximately Tk 600 crore are underway. However, delays in fund disbursement have raised serious concerns about their continuity. The Chief Engineer's Office highlighted that major projects include the construction of a 10-storey academic building, two 10-storey student dormitories, a foreign student dormitory, and residential buildings for faculty and staff. Other infrastructure initiatives like solar power installation and drainage systems are also in progress.
University sources confirmed that all financial transactions require the VC's signature, affecting bill clearances, salary disbursement, and project payments. Due to the prolonged vacancy in the post, over 1,100 teachers, officers, and staff have not received their May salaries or Eid-ul-Azha bonuses. An official of the university's accounts section stated, "No financial transaction, even a single bill, can be processed without the VC's authorization."
Contractors involved in ongoing infrastructure projects have also expressed frustration. Engineer Md. Saiful Islam, from Civil Engineering and SSL, mentioned, "We received our last payment before Eid-ul-Fitr. Since then, there has been no clearance of bills. We are continuing work on two projects worth Tk 150 crore by taking loans."
Dr. Zulfiquar Hossain, Director of the Infrastructure and Academic Expansion Project, echoed these concerns, warning that if payments are not settled by June 30, contractors may halt work. Chief Engineer A.B.M. Mamunur Rashid confirmed that most contractors haven't received payments for two months. "If we fail to utilize the allocated budget by fiscal year-end, it will result in considerable financial loss," he added.
The crisis stems from a leadership vacuum. Following faculty and student protests, the Ministry of Education removed VC Prof. Dr. Muhammad Masud and Pro-VC Prof. Dr. Shariful Alam on April 25. Acting VC Dr. Md. Hazrat Ali resigned on May 22, leaving the university without an administrative head. On June 4, the Ministry issued a call for applications for the VC post, with a deadline of June 26.
Concerned citizens and education stakeholders in Khulna emphasized that appointing a new VC is essential but not sufficient. They stressed that restoring a politically neutral environment is crucial to bringing KUET back to its former academic and administrative stability.