The University Grants Commission (UGC) has formed a six-member advisory committee to resolve the ongoing impasse at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), but no representative from the university has been included in the panel.
The committee was formed on Monday afternoon following a directive from the Ministry of Education.
UGC member Professor Abdullah-Al-Mamun has been appointed convener of the committee, while UGC Additional Director Md Mahibul Ahsan will serve as its member-secretary.
The other members are the vice-chancellors of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), Chittagong University and Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU), along with Md Mahbubul Haque Patwari, additional secretary (University) at the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education.
Additional Secretary Md Mahbubul Haque Patwari confirmed the formation of the committee.
The committee will recommend measures to resolve the impasse at Cuet and restore normal academic activities. However, the exclusion of any teacher or representative from the university has raised questions about the initiative.
Shutdown continues over VC appointment
On 21 September, Cuet Vice-Chancellor Prof Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem was removed from office, and Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) was appointed as his successor.
Protesting the decision, students have been enforcing an all-out shutdown since 22 September. Teachers, officers and employees have also continued work abstention and non-cooperation programmes, pressing the same demand.
The protests have brought most academic activities, including classes and examinations, to a halt.
Amid the impasse, the vice-chancellor convened an online meeting of the university’s syndicate last Friday. The UGC subsequently formed the advisory committee based on decisions taken at that meeting.
However, Samiun Basir, joint secretary of the Cuet Teachers’ Association, questioned the legitimacy of the syndicate meeting, as well as the composition of the committee.
“There is no one from Cuet on the committee formed to resolve Cuet’s problems. An even bigger question is how legitimate the syndicate meeting was, given that the committee was formed based on its decisions. No one from Cuet was present at that syndicate meeting either,” he said.
With the standoff continuing, uncertainty remains over when academic activities will resume. Stakeholders are now awaiting the committee’s recommendations and the next steps towards resolving the crisis.
