Cuet teachers, students demand reinstatement of VC

Teachers and students of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) staged a human chain and blocked the university's main gate today (22 September), demanding the reinstatement of Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem.

The Cuet Teachers Association organised the human chain in front of the vice-chancellor's office around 11am. Teachers, officers and employees of the university took part.

Meanwhile, students staged a blockade at the university's main gate in protest against the change of vice-chancellor.

At around 9:20am, students gathered at the main gate and locked it. They chanted slogans demanding Sayem's reinstatement, including, "We have only one demand — we want Sayem Sir as VC" and "Who do we want in the VC's chair? We want Sayem Sir back."

The blockade effectively halted the university's regular academic and administrative activities.

Speaking at the human chain, Professor Dr Basir Jisan of the Department of Civil Engineering said, "Yesterday, Abu Sadat Sayem Sir attended a meeting at the Ministry of Defence. After leaving the meeting, he learned that he was no longer the vice-chancellor. This is extremely humiliating."

"Abu Sadat Sayem Sir showed us how a university can be taken forward. That is why our students have launched an unprecedented movement demanding his reinstatement. The teaching community has also joined them. We want Dr Abu Sadat Sayem Sir reinstated as vice-chancellor," he said.

Sakib Hasan, a fourth-year student of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, said, "We have been protesting since last night against the removal of our Vice-Chancellor Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem Sir without any prior explanation. As part of this, we have announced a campus shutdown today. Our programme will continue until our demands are met."

Another student, Golam Morshed Ratul, said, "We strongly protest the unjustified removal of our Sayem Sir. We welcome the participation of the teachers in the movement."

After the human chain, the Teachers Association and Officers Association brought out a procession from the vice-chancellor's office. It ended at the university's Shaheed Minar premises.

Earlier last night (21 September), students protested against the decision to remove Professor Dr Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem as Cuet vice-chancellor and appoint Professor Dr Sheikh Shariful Alam of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) as his replacement.

Following the protest, students locked the vice-chancellor's office and announced a shutdown of all academic and administrative activities until further notice. They continued the programme by occupying the university's main gate from this morning.