CUET Main Gate Locked Again to Block New VC
Protesting students at the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology locked the main campus gate yesterday amid rumors that newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Sheikh Shariful Alam might arrive. Although students maintained positions throughout the day, the new VC did not enter the campus and reportedly stayed at the Chattogram Circuit House, where he has remained since September 22.
The CUET Teachers Association responded by holding an emergency general meeting at the central auditorium, presided over by Association President Professor Dr. Mohammad Ahsan Ullah and conducted by General Secretary Professor Dr. Md. Abul Hasan. The association unanimously adopted three key decisions, including the reinstatement of former VC Professor Dr. Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem.
Additional demands from the teachers include appointing a VC exclusively from senior engineering academicians currently serving at CUET, alongside continuing the ongoing full-scale work abstention. Protesting student Nazmul Islam stated regarding their complete shutdown program that the former VC was unjustly removed and that the movement will persist until he is reinstated.
CUET Employees Association President Jamal Uddin noted that employees observed their sit-in program as usual. While movements remain temporarily suspended due to the upcoming government holidays, the sit-in program is scheduled to resume from Sunday to maintain pressure on the university administration.
The ongoing deadlock began on September 21 when the government removed Professor Sayem and appointed Dr. Sheikh Shariful Alam from KUET as the new VC. Students launched immediate protests demanding the cancellation of this appointment, prompting teachers, officers, and employees to join the shutdown and suspend all academic and administrative activities for 17 days.
