Despite officially assuming office late last month, the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet), Professor Dr Sheikh Shariful Alam, remains unable to set foot on campus amidst ongoing student and staff demonstrations.
Adding to the controversy surrounding the ongoing stalemate, Professor Alam has delegated interim “routine duties” of the vice-chancellorship to Professor Dr Md Arafat Rahman of the Mechanical Engineering Department for 11 and 12 October.
University sources confirmed that the vice-chancellor travelled to Dhaka on Friday afternoon to attend a meeting at the University Grants Commission (UGC) scheduled for the weekend.
To ensure administrative and academic operations continue until his return on 13 October, Professor Alam issued an email on 9 October assigning the temporary charge to Professor Rahman.
However, handing routine authority to a department professor, rather than a dean or statutory officer, whilst remaining physically barred from the university has raised sharp questions across campus circles.
The delegation of power has sparked legal and procedural debates regarding adherence to university statutes.
Under Section 10(3) of the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology Act, 2003, if the office of the vice-chancellor becomes vacant, or if the vice-chancellor is unable to perform their duties due to leave, absence, illness, or any other cause, the pro-vice-chancellor is expected to assume charge unless the Chancellor directs otherwise.
In the absence of a pro-vice-chancellor, the university statutes stipulate that the Treasurer or the most senior Dean should take over interim responsibilities.
Addressing queries over bypassing the faculty deans, Professor Alam defended his decision, telling reporters that appointing any professor suffices and that no strict requirement binds him to selecting a dean.
Professor Rahman also downplayed the location constraints, noting that routine duties can be handled remotely and do not strictly require physical presence in the vice-chancellor’s office, adding that he will simply oversee day-to-day administrative matters as requested.
Meanwhile, the deadlock at Cuet has entered its 18th consecutive day as students, teachers, and administrative staff intensify their boycott to demand the reinstatement of the former executive leadership.
Professor Alam, who was previously based at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet), was appointed as Cuet vice-chancellor on 21 September, replacing Professor Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem.
Demonstrators launched a “complete shutdown” the following day, locking the doors to the Vice-Chancellor’s office in protest against the appointment.
Although Professor Alam formally submitted his joining letter online to the President and the Secretary of the Ministry of Education on 24 September, fierce resistance has prevented him from entering the campus, forcing him to operate out of the Chattogram Circuit House.
