Students protesting at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) have given new Vice-Chancellor Sheikh Shariful Alam an ultimatum to vacate the office by noon.
They warned that if he fails to leave the building within the stipulated time, they will declare it “vacant,” lock its entrance and disconnect its electricity and water supplies.
The announcement was made in a statement outlining the protesters’ programme on Monday. The students also called on supporters to gather in front of the VC building.
VC Shariful entered the campus, broke the lock on the building and entered his office in the morning amid the ongoing “complete shutdown” programme enforced by the protesters. He was accompanied by Chhatra Dal’s Cuet unit President Wasif Rashed, Joint General Secretary Abu Sufian Al Sabit, and Organising Secretary Biplob Hossain.
“We entered the building together,” Chhatra Dal leader Sabit said.
According to university sources, the VC arrived on campus in a microbus. He entered through the main gate, identifying himself only as a teacher.
The students have been observing the shutdown since 22 September to protest the appointment of the new VC and demand the reinstatement of former VC Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem. As part of the programme, the entrance to the vice-chancellor’s building had been locked.
Teachers, officers and employees of the university are also observing work abstentions over the same demand. Classes and examinations at Cuet have remained suspended for 20 consecutive days due to the protests.
