Sheikh Shariful Alam, vice-chancellor of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet), has strongly rejected media reports claiming he resigned or agreed never to return to the campus, declaring that he will resume his duties once he recovers.
Terming the reports published in several media outlets as “false and baseless”, the vice-chancellor issued a protest statement on Wednesday expressing deep regret that such news was published without seeking his comment.
Alam clarified that he was taken out of his office in the Cuet administrative building on Tuesday in presence of the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Chattogram, following a nearly 30-hour siege.
He firmly dismissed news reports suggesting that students allowed him to leave only on the condition that he would never return to campus, clarifying that he had made no such statement or commitment.
Explaining the circumstances surrounding his departure, the vice-chancellor disclosed that his physical health severely deteriorated after being confined in his office without electricity from 12pm on Monday.
The health condition of around 11 people stationed there worsened during the ordeal, following an incident on Monday night when two alumni members fell ill, leading to one being admitted to hospital.
Alam was subsequently hospitalised on the advice of government doctors and the civil surgeon, and the vice-chancellor noted that he was not in a physical state to speak when he was being escorted off campus.
Currently under close medical observation, he expressed his firm resolve to return to work, adding, “Upon recovering, I will resume my duties at the university, Insha’Allah.”
In his statement, Alam emphasised that he came to Chattogram solely to discharge the responsibilities assigned to him by the state, without any personal interest, special agenda, or political motive.
Highlighting the importance of maintaining institutional operations, he urged the protesting students – whom he referred to as his alumni younger brothers and sisters, noting that he was also a former student of Cuet – not to allow their academic lives to be compromised by the instigation of vested interest groups.
He called upon the students to return to their classrooms without delay to avoid prolonging their academic tenure.
Alam appealed to the relevant media organisations to verify facts, seek statements from concerned individuals, and uphold the principles of objective journalism, requesting them to correct any misleading information previously reported.
