The student movement at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) demanding the reinstatement of vice-chancellor Professor Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem has entered its ninth consecutive day, with launching new programmes in the absence of administrative intervention.
According to the schedule announced by the students, a “complete shutdown” and strict position programme have been underway at the main gate of Cuet since Wednesday morning. As a central symbolic highlight of the day’s events, a “blindfolded protest procession” was scheduled for Wednesday noon.
Musarrat Tabassum, a third-year student from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, said despite nine consecutive days of varied protests, no effective step has been observed by the university administration regarding their demands.
She noted that the procession with black cloths tied over their eyes serves as a direct symbolic response to this administrative silence.
In preceding days of the movement, students observed a broad range of protest activities, including marches, human chains, mass signature drives, mass sit-ins, torch processions, red card demonstrations, and a symbolic query march titled “56?”.
In addition to maintaining an overnight presence at the main entrance, students organised cricket tournaments, sports, and creative events at the site.
Amidst the ongoing demonstrations, newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam joined his post online on 24 September.
At the time, he indicated that prior to physically arriving on campus, he would resolve the matters through discussions with relevant stakeholders.
However, student demonstrations have continued unabated, with protesters affirming that their sit-in at the main gate and various protest programmes will persist until their demands are met.
By undertaking the blindfolded procession on the ninth day, the protesting students aim to highlight the administration’s inaction through symbolic means.
According to the students, while their eyes remain covered, they intend to draw immediate attention to the administration’s ongoing silence and the campus deadlock through those very blindfolds.
