The ongoing blockade at the Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) in Gazipur continues, following tensions surrounding the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor. While the demonstration remains technically active, the campus reported a calm atmosphere on Tuesday, 19 May 2026. No students were observed gathering for protests or staging sit-ins at the university gates. Meanwhile, the police have registered a criminal case against 250 unidentified individuals in connection with violent clashes that erupted on campus last Sunday.
Aminul Islam, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Gazipur Sadar Police Station, confirmed the legal developments on Tuesday. He stated that the confrontation on Sunday resulted in significant damage to university infrastructure and left 14 to 15 people injured, including the Gazipur Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Sajjat Hossain, alongside several general students. Consequently, the police filed a case against 250 unidentified suspects on charges of obstructing government officials from executing their duties.
The timeline, casualties, and current administrative status of the DUET unrest are outlined in the table below:
| Key Event Indices | Verified Institutional Data and Details |
| Institution Name and Location | Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET), Gazipur |
| Newly Appointed Vice-Chancellor | Professor Dr Mohammad Iqbal (formerly of SUST) |
| Date of VC Appointment Notification | 14 May 2026 |
| Commencement of Blockade Programme | Monday, 18 May 2026, at 08:00 BST |
| Injuries Sustained on Sunday (17 May) | 14–15 individuals (including the local UNO and 18 students) |
| Police Action and Legal Charges | Lawsuit filed against 250 unidentified people for obstructing public duties |
| Current Administrative Status | Professor Dr Mohammad Iqbal has assumed office and resumed official duties |
| Law Enforcement Deployment | Strict police presence maintained across the campus area since Tuesday morning |
The formal blockade was initiated by students under the banner of “general students” at 08:00 BST on Monday, 18 May. Demonstrating students occupied the campus grounds, leading protest rallies and assemblies. During the demonstration, university officers and staff were barred from entering the premises, forcing them to wait outside the main gates. This disruption led to a complete suspension of both administrative and academic activities across the institution.
On Monday afternoon, the striking students convened a press conference near the campus Shaheed Minar to articulate their position. Aman Ullah, a fourth-year Civil Engineering student speaking on behalf of the demonstrators, delivered a written statement clarifying their stance. He noted that students had been conducting peaceful demonstrations inside the campus and briefly at the main gate for a week, ensuring that ongoing examinations and academic calendars were not disrupted.
According to the students’ statement, the situation escalated on the morning of 17 May when members of the DUET Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party) along with external hired elements allegedly attempted to breach the university gates. When the students inside tried to resist the entry, they were reportedly attacked from the outside, leaving 18 students injured. Following this incident, the students put forward a three-point demand, vowing to sustain the blockade until their grievances are addressed.
In response to the violence, the police filed the case on Monday night and subsequently intensified their security measures. From 08:00 BST on Tuesday, a significant police presence was established throughout the DUET campus. Law enforcement officials noted that no further assemblies, student meetings, or group gatherings were observed on Tuesday, although the blockade remains officially in place. No further comments have been issued by the student representatives regarding the heavy police deployment.
Meanwhile, the university administration released an official press statement confirming that the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr Mohammad Iqbal, had joined the university on Sunday and has actively commenced his administrative responsibilities. Professor Iqbal, a faculty member from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), was appointed to the post via a ministry notification on 14 May. Protests initially broke out that night at 21:30 BST, eventually escalating into the current standoff. OC Aminul Islam reiterated that security forces remain deployed across the campus to prevent further unrest.