C T Online Desk: Hundreds of students from Dhaka University and other institutions staged a fresh protest on Tuesday night, blockading the Shahbagh intersection and initiating a hunger strike at the base of the Raju sculpture. Their primary demand is the resignation of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Masud.

The protest began around 11:00 pm, as a large procession of students marched from Dhaka University’s Hall Para, through TSC, and converged at Shahbagh. Within an hour, the crowd grew to several hundred, bringing traffic in the area to a standstill.

Chanting slogans like “Blockade, Shahbagh blockade, my brother is on hunger strike” and “Education and terrorism cannot go together”, the students vowed to continue the demonstration until their demand is fulfilled.

Musaddek Ali Ibn Muhammad, a student of the Bangla department at Dhaka University and a coordinator of the movement, said, “We have one point, one demand. If the KUET VC does not resign, we will continue this blockade. We’ll announce our next programme within the next hour or so if the government does not respond.”

At the foot of the Raju sculpture, 10 to 12 leaders from the Bangladesh Democratic Students’ Council (BDSC) began a hunger strike. Among them are Tahmid Al Mudassir Chowdhury, the central chief organiser, and Mohir Alam, the DU branch’s member secretary.

Mushfiquzzaman, a student of Information Science and Library Management at DU, commented, “Even if this causes temporary inconvenience, if it brings hope for justice across campuses, including KUET, then it is worth it.”

Sabbirul Islam, a political science student, added, “When your back is against the wall, there’s no other way. We tried peaceful rallies, but they didn’t work. Even the advisory council, which includes student representatives, has remained silent. That’s why we’ve chosen this path.”

As the night went on, more students joined the protest, reflecting growing support for the movement. Protesters warned they would escalate their actions if the KUET Vice-Chancellor is not removed soon.

The protests stem from the recent temporary expulsion of 37 KUET students following a February 18 clash between Chhatra Dal and the Student Movement Against Discrimination. Over 50 students were injured in the incident, and several faced legal action.

In response, 32 KUET students began a hunger strike on Monday. The movement has since gained momentum, drawing participation from students at Jahangirnagar University, BUET, Jagannath University, Dhaka College, and various private universities.