Students of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) held a human chain and sit-in programme in front of the Chittagong Press Club on Tuesday, demanding the reinstatement of Professor Dr Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem as vice-chancellor.
The demonstration took place from 3:30pm to 4pm as part of their ongoing movement.
After two weeks of continuous protests on campus, students organised this demonstration in Chattogram city, located nearly 23 kilometres away from the university campus.
Over a hundred students arrived at the venue in five buses from the campus, while a large number of Cuet students residing in different parts of the city also joined the event.
Call for PM’s intervention
During the programme, demonstrators held placards with messages such as “Cuet sochole Prodhanmontrir hostokhep” (PM’s intervention to make Cuet operational), “Cuet Revolts for Sayem Sir,” and “PM, Consider Our Appeal.”
They also chanted slogans including “Dofa ek, dabi ek, online VC-r podottyag” (One point, one demand, resignation of online VC) and “Dabi moder ektai, Sayem Sir-ke VC chai” (We have only one demand, we want Sayem Sir as VC).
Speaking at the event, Asadullah Hil Galib, a fourth-year student from the Department of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, stated that students had been protesting peacefully for 15 days without seeing any effective measures to resolve the crisis.
Condemning the delay, he noted that it is a unique instance in Bangladesh’s history where university students, teachers, and officials collectively demand one individual as Vice-Chancellor, and expressed hope that the government would respect their demand and reinstate Professor Dr Sayem.
A written statement was read out at the human chain by fourth-year students Ahnaf Shahriar Ornob, Mahira Tazrin, and Zulqarnain Mihad.
In the statement, students emphasised that there is no logical ground to prolong the crisis at Cuet, pointing out that the prolonged non-functionality of one of the country’s premier engineering institutions is severely harming classes, examinations, research, and the academic future of thousands.
Clarifying that they are not standing against the state but seeking a fair reconsideration of an unexplained administrative decision, the students stated that they were seeking no special privileges.
Instead, to restore a normal academic environment and considering the planned initiatives from Professor Dr Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem’s 56-day tenure, they appealed for a swift, clear decision from the government and direct intervention from the Honourable Prime Minister.
Imdadul Hoque, a third-year student of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, stated that after peaceful campus protests yielded no effective resolution, students were compelled to take their demands outside the campus, urging the government to act promptly to resolve the stalemate and reinstate Professor Dr Sayem.
How did the crisis begin?
The crisis began on 21 September, when Professor Dr Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem was removed from his post after serving just 56 days, and Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam of Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (Kuet) was appointed as Cuet’s new vice-chancellor.
Students launched protests that very day, followed by a “Complete Shutdown” programme from 22 September.
On the 14th day of the movement, academic and administrative operations at the university remain completely suspended. Students have previously observed various protest programmes, including red card demonstrations, torch processions, and mask processions, as the ongoing stalemate shows no sign of resolution.
