The Ministry of Education has initiated formation of an investigation or advisory committee aimed at resolving ongoing impasse at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) and resuming classroom-based academic activities.
To this end, a letter has been sent to the chairman of University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) requesting necessary measures.
Issued on Sunday from the University Branch of Secondary and Higher Education Division of the ministry, the letter requested UGC to take steps to form the committee at member level.
The committee has been asked to urgently send important and specific recommendations to the Ministry of Education to resolve Cuet impasse.
The directive was issued in a letter signed by Md Sultan Ahmed, assistant secretary of Secondary and Higher Education Division. Copies of the letter have been forwarded to relevant offices, including the vice-chancellor of Cuet, for taking necessary action.
Earlier on Friday evening, the 145th emergency Syndicate meeting of the university was held online, chaired by the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam.
Although six members, including the vice-chancellor, attended the meeting, no teacher members joined.
Three decisions were taken at the meeting to resolve the university’s impasse: appealing to students, teachers, officers, and employees to return to classroom-based academic activities immediately; holding integrated discussions with local public representatives and relevant stakeholders; and sending a recommendation to the Ministry of Education to form a high-powered investigation and advisory committee to resolve the crisis.
Following the third decision taken at the syndicate meeting, the Ministry of Education sent the letter two days later asking UGC to initiate the formation of the committee.
However, it remains unclear how quickly the ongoing impasse at Cuet will be resolved through this initiative.
