Protests paralyse CUET over VC replacement
Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) has been effectively shut down as students protest the government’s decision to replace vice-chancellor (VC) Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem after 56 days in office.
The protest continued on Tuesday, with teachers also holding a human chain demonstration outside the vice-chancellor’s residence in the afternoon.
Students shut the university’s main gate from inside on Tuesday morning and began a “shutdown” programme, demanding Sayem’s reinstatement.
They also shouted slogans in support of the former VC.
On Monday, Sheikh Shariful Alam, a professor of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), was appointed as CUET’s new VC.
Sayem, a professor of CUET’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, had taken charge on Jul 27.
Students began protesting on Monday night after learning that he had been removed and replaced.
Around 10:30pm, students began a procession from the campus’s Swadhinata Chattar.
Female students also joined the march after coming out of their residential halls.
Around midnight, they locked the administrative building. A note attached to the lock read: “Only Sayem Sir can open this lock.”
The students resumed their protest around 9:30am on Tuesday, shouting slogans demanding Sayem’s reinstatement.
One of the protesters told bdnews24.com that Sayem had been removed after only 56 days despite taking several initiatives and being supportive of students.
The student said their sole demand was his reinstatement.
CUET Student Welfare Director Prof Saiful Islam said no students had attended classes, preventing academic activities from getting under way.
Administrative work has also stopped because the administrative building is locked, he said, adding that the university authorities had not held discussions with the protesting students.
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