Protesting students at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) locked the entrance to the vice-chancellor’s office while new VC Sheikh Shariful Alam was still inside.
Although the students had given him an ultimatum to vacate the building by 12pm on Monday, they took the step after the deadline had passed.
They had announced that if the new VC failed to leave within the stipulated time, they would declare the building “vacant,” lock its entrance and disconnect its electricity and water supplies.
VC Shariful entered the campus in the morning amid the ongoing complete shutdown programme. He later broke the lock on the entrance to the VC building and entered his office.
He was accompanied by Chhatra Dal’s Cuet unit President Wasif Rashed, Joint General Secretary Abu Sufian Al Sabit, and Organising Secretary Biplob Hossain.
Around 12:30pm, the protesters chanted various slogans, including “Lock, lock, lock—the VC’s building will be locked” and “Reject, reject, reject the online VC.”
Students have been observing a complete shutdown programme since 21 September to protest the appointment of the new VC and demand reinstatement of former VC Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem. Teachers, officers and employees of the university are also observing work abstentions over the same demands.
Chhatra Dal welcomes new VC
Chhatra Dal’s Cuet unit has welcomed new VC Shariful, while protesting students have rejected his appointment and continued to demand the reinstatement of former VC Sayem.
In a post on its Facebook page on Monday, Chhatra Dal leaders congratulated Shariful, claiming that he had assumed office in the presence of general students, teachers, officers and employees.
Prof Shariful could have enjoyed the highest level of facilities and benefits abroad but returned out of love for the country and fought alongside students during the July uprising, said the BNP’s student wing.
In the same post, Chhatra Dal accused a section of the protesters of misleading general students in an attempt to protect the former VC. The protesters’ response to the allegation was not immediately available.
Abdullah Al Mahful, a second-year student in Cuet’s Department of Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering, said students would not accept a major decision such as changing the VC through political interference at a campus free from student politics.
Mahful claimed that the students had strongly rejected the new VC’s entry, alleging that it took place with the support of a handful of self-interested students and teachers while disregarding the views of 99 per cent of the campus community.
He said they will continue to demand the reinstatement of former VC Prof Sayem.
However, TIMES could not independently verify the data behind his claim about the 99 per cent figure.
Shariful, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet), was appointed Cuet vice-chancellor on 21 September, replacing Prof Sayem.
Students enforce shutdown on campus
Students began their shutdown programme the following day, protesting the appointment and demanding Sayem’s reinstatement. As part of the programme, they locked the entrance to the VC’s office.
Teachers, officers and employees have also been observing work abstentions over the same demands. Classes and examinations have remained suspended for 20 consecutive days, leaving academic activities at the university stalled.
Prof Shariful formally joined as vice-chancellor on 24 September by sending his joining letter to the President and the Secretary of the Ministry of Education. However, the protests had prevented him from entering the campus to begin official activities until Monday, when he entered his office accompanied by Chhatra Dal leaders.
The incident has highlighted the divide between Chhatra Dal, which supports the new VC, and the protesting students, who continue to oppose his appointment. Uncertainty remains over when academic activities at Cuet will resume.
