BUET to resume postponed exams on May 11, appeal against stay on politics ban

The Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology or BUET has decided to resume postponed term final exams on May 11 after discussions with students who boycotted the tests for the restoration of a ban on politics.

Professor Mohammad Al Amin Siddique, director at the Directorate of Students’ Welfare, announced the decision on Wednesday.

The full schedule for the exams will be published next week.     

Prof Al Amin also said the university will appeal against a High Court order that stayed a ban on political activities on the campus.

It will appoint one of the lawyers proposed by the students in the lengthy discussions.

The authorities will bear the cost of the legal battle.

One of the class representatives who took part in the discussions said the exams would end before Eid-ul-Azha. “We’re seeing everything positively. The teachers are with us over our demand,” the representative said, requesting not to be named.

The university postponed the examinations amid a boycott on Apr 20. The students of several batches did not sit the term final exams after the end of the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.

The demonstrators said they would return to academic activities if the authorities file an appeal challenging the High Court order staying the ban.

BUET clamped the ban in 2019 after the killing of student Abrar Fahad by activists of the ruling Awami League’s student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League.

Amid fresh protests, the university cancelled the seat in a residential hall of a BCL activist recently after he invited some central leaders to the campus.

Following a writ petition by the BCL activist, the High Court suspended the ban and asked why it should not be lifted permanently.