Cuet in focus: Students lock new VC in his office

Teachers call for work stoppage, noncooperation

Tensions at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) escalated yesterday after demonstrating students locked newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam inside the administrative building, demanding his resignation.

They also cut power and water supplies to the building, a move that comes on the 21st day of the campus-wide shutdown demanding the reinstatement of former vice-chancellor Professor Dr Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem.

Compounding the crisis, CUET’s teachers, officers, and staff associations announced a complete work stoppage and all-out non-cooperation in the afternoon, bringing academic and administrative operations at the university to a standstill.

The confrontation flared up around 9:00am when the VC arrived on campus for the first time since his September 21 appointment in a microbus. According to university sources, he entered through the main gate after identifying himself as a “teacher.”

Accompanied by some faculty members, officials, and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leaders, Professor Alam proceeded to the VC office and broke open padlocks previously placed on the doors by protesting students, said sources at CUET.

As the news spread, hundreds of students gathered in front of the building, chanting slogans such as “We reject the new VC” and demanding his immediate resignation. They gave him an ultimatum to leave campus by noon. When the deadline passed, students declared the building “vacant,” re-locked the outer gates, and cut off utility lines.

“The newly appointed VC entered the campus by hiding his identity and broke the locks to enter the office,” said Ahnaf Shahriar Arnob, a student and a coordinator of the movement.

“He ignored the ultimatum, so we locked the building from the outside. We will continue our peaceful protests and request him to step down honourably.”

Trapped inside alongside the VC, JCD unit President Wasif Rashed denied breaking into the office.

“VC sir went to his office with the teachers and officials. We went to greet him,” Rashed told The Daily Star over the phone, claiming the demonstration was being manipulated.

“Students’ agitation has been hijacked by a vested quarter. A section of teachers is provoking students for their own interests.”

Meanwhile, around 3:30pm, the CUET Teachers’, Officers’, and Staff Associations held a joint press conference at the university auditorium to announce a strike.

CUET Teachers’ Association President Professor Mohammad Ahsan Ullah, at the press conference, said the VC entered the office with outsiders.

“We are calling for a complete work stoppage and all-out non-cooperation until our demands are met. CUET’s community does not accept him as vice-chancellor.”

“He will be held responsible if any untoward incident occurs,” he added.

Speaking to reporters through a gap in the locked main gate, Professor Alam defended his appointment, saying that the government followed due procedure in appointing him.

“Some people here want the former VC reinstated,” he said.

Downplaying any personal rivalry, he described former VC Professor Sayem as a gentleman, a great teacher, and a batchmate, adding, “We are not enemies.”

Contacted, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Chattogram District, Masud Alam, said, “The vice-chancellor himself does not want to come out of his office. I spoke to him over the phone in the afternoon.”

Meanwhile, Chattogram Additional Superintendent of Police Md Sirajul Islam dismissed students’ claim that two university buses travelling from the city had been attacked in Madunaghat area around 2:00pm, clarifying that the vehicles were merely turned back by road obstructions.

On September 21, Professor Alam was appointed as VC of CUET, replacing Professor Sayem after just 56 days in office. Professor Alam has been attempting to conduct administrative functions remotely from the Chattogram Circuit House.

As night fell, the main administrative gates remained padlocked, with students holding sit-ins outside.