CUET Teachers, Students Hope for Successful Resolution of Movement to Reinstate VC

Teachers and students protesting for the reinstatement of Professor Dr Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem as vice-chancellor of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) said their movement is nearing a successful outcome. They said the government’s higher authorities have started discussions with teacher and student leaders about the overall situation. They expect a positive decision soon. A teacher leader also said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is closely looking into the matter.

Professor Sayem was appointed for a four-year term but was removed only 56 days later, on September 21, through a government notification. Another notification appointed former KUET Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam as the new CUET vice-chancellor. After the news reached the campus on the night of September 21, students began protesting. The following day, students from all levels announced a complete shutdown on campus demanding Professor Sayem’s reinstatement. The teachers’ association also began an indefinite work stoppage with the same demand.

Members of the CUET Officers’ Association and Employees’ Association later joined the movement. The unprecedented joint movement by teachers and students brought CUET’s academic activities to a standstill. All classes and examinations have remained suspended for 13 days. The newly appointed vice-chancellor has so far been unable to enter the campus.

Students have continued holding various programmes every day to press their demand, while members of the teachers’ association have also been observing sit-ins on campus. The teachers’ association called for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s intervention to resolve the issue. The prolonged deadlock at CUET also caused concern among government ministers and leaders in Chattogram, who contacted the government’s higher authorities over the matter.

A BNP lawmaker said the government’s decision to appoint Professor Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem as CUET vice-chancellor had received widespread appreciation. According to the lawmaker, appointing a qualified person to the post had improved the government’s image among teachers and students.

He said the sudden removal of Professor Sayem without any stated reason had damaged the government’s reputation. He added that the government’s top leadership was also embarrassed after teachers, students and the entire CUET community stood behind Professor Sayem demanding his reinstatement. Students staged demonstrations on campus again on Sunday to press their demand, while members of the teachers’ association observed a day-long sit-in.

Meeting held to resolve ongoing crisis

On the 13th day of the movement, the CUET Teachers’ Association said representatives had held discussions with relevant senior government authorities over the demand to reinstate Professor Dr Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem. The association disclosed the matter at a press conference held in front of the vice-chancellor’s residence on Sunday.

Assistant Professor Md Samiun Bashir of the Department of Water Resources Engineering and joint secretary of the CUET Teachers’ Association read out the written statement. He said representatives of CUET’s teachers, officers and employees’ associations took part in a cordial and productive discussion with relevant senior government authorities on Saturday.

“The current situation at CUET and the demand to reinstate Professor Dr Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem as vice-chancellor were formally presented at the meeting. The representatives also presented various arguments and practical considerations in support of the demand,” he said. He said the relevant government authorities listened to the representatives with patience and sincerity and gave serious consideration to their statements.

“We hope that after properly considering the issues presented, the relevant authorities will take a positive decision to restore normal academic activities and stability at CUET,” he said. During the 13-day movement, students have organised processions, human chains, mass signature campaigns, red-card displays, torch processions and wall writings, among other programmes.

Teachers, officers and employees have also joined various programmes in solidarity with the students’ demands. Following the discussions between university representatives and senior government authorities, teachers, students and other members of the CUET community are now waiting for a decision from the relevant authorities to resolve the ongoing crisis.