Holding red paper sheets with “56?” written in large red letters high above their heads or against their chests, demonstrating students brought out a symbolic “question march” at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) on Sunday afternoon.
During the programme, the campus became vibrant with slogans such as “Our demand is only one, we want Sayem Sir as VC” and “Sayem Sir, Sayem Sir.”
The number “56?” written in red on the papers brought forward the students’ central question – why former Vice-Chancellor Professor Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem was replaced after serving for merely 56 days.
The students have been observing various demonstration programmes for six days demanding his reinstatement.
Ayesha Karim Soha, a 24th-batch student of the Computer Science and Engineering department who participated in the symbolic question march, said their vice-chancellor was changed within just 56 days and questioned how long this situation would continue after six days of continuous movement.
Expressing gratitude for the former vice-chancellor’s work during his 56 days in office, she urged the authorities to accept their demand as quickly as possible so he could return as VC.
Meanwhile, students expressed a strong desire to resolve the movement quickly and return to classes.
Sadnan Wasi, a 22nd-batch student of the Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering department, appealed to the prime minister to accept their single demand so they could return to classes soon, adding that they have already suffered severe session jams and do not want to prolong them any further.
Earlier on Saturday, students observed a “red card” programme rejecting online joining of the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam.
Reiterating their demand that Professor Sayem must be reinstated, students have been enforcing various programmes, including a complete campus shutdown, over the past six days.
With the red paper sheets marked “56?” in hand and slogans of “Sayem Sir” resounding across the campus, the protesters made their demand clear – they want Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem reinstated and wish to return to academic activities promptly.
Faculty and staff observe work abstention
Simultaneously, teachers, officers, and employees of Cuet observed a work abstention and sit-in demonstration demanding the reinstatement of Professor Dr Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem as vice-chancellor.
The programme was held in front of the vice-chancellor’s administrative building from 11am to 1pm on Sunday, with participation from members of Cuet Teachers’ Association alongside Officers’ Association and Employees’ Association.
Speaking at the demonstration, Associate Professor Syed Masrur Ahmmad said their sole demand is to preserve the university’s autonomy, adding that teachers have no personal interests but are under mental pressure due to the prevailing stalemate.
He said students are lagging behind and academic activities cannot proceed despite their best intentions, earnestly appealing to the government to resolve the ongoing issue in line with its mission and vision to protect students’ academic lives.
Priyotosh Chakraborty, general secretary of Cuet Employees’ Association, demanded the immediate cancellation of the notification issued on 21 September regarding the removal of Professor Sayem and the appointment of a new vice-chancellor.
Expressing solidarity with the respected teachers, he declared that staff members would continue their work abstention until Sayem is reinstated.
Amid the ongoing unrest at Cuet, the newly appointed vice-chancellor, Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam, assumed office on Thursday without physically appearing on campus by submitting his joining letter directly to the president and the secretary of the Ministry of Education.
Following news of the newly appointed vice-chancellor’s joining, Cuet Teachers’ Association convened an emergency meeting that same day and announced a total work abstention.
Subsequently, Cuet Officers’ Association and Employees’ Association expressed solidarity with the work abstention through separate statements on Friday and Saturday.
