Cuet students warn of tougher protests if VC Shariful returns to campus

Students of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) have warned of tougher protests if newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Prof Sheikh Shariful Alam attempts to return to the campus.

In a press release issued yesterday (14 October), the protesting students said that the vice-chancellor was released from confinement on the condition that he would not return to the campus.

The students said they had informed the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of the condition before the vice-chancellor was escorted out of the building on Tuesday (13 October).

According to them, the officials agreed to the condition before entering the building.

They also claimed that the condition was stated three times in front of the media as the vice-chancellor and 10 others were escorted out, and that neither Shariful Alam nor anyone accompanying him objected.

Describing their decision to let the vice-chancellor leave as a humanitarian gesture, the students said they had arranged food, water and essential medicines for those inside the building. They had also taken steps to arrange medical check-ups.

The students further claimed that the water supply remained operational despite the disconnection of electricity.

They urged the media to publish footage recorded by journalists at the scene and accounts from eyewitnesses to help verify conflicting reports about the incident.

They said allowing the vice-chancellor to leave safely should not be interpreted as backing down from their demands, warning that any attempt by Shariful Alam to return to the campus could trigger a fresh crisis.

Mohammad Jahangir Alam Jony, a third-year student in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, said, "We did not want to disrespect anyone. We wanted to establish justice and accountability at our university. We allowed the vice-chancellor to leave safely out of humanitarian concern, not as part of any compromise."

He said the vice-chancellor had been allowed to leave on the condition that he would not return to the campus. If he attempted to return in disregard of that condition, responsibility for the consequences could not be placed on the students, Jony added.

"Our position is clear: the shutdown and boycott of classes and examinations will continue until Prof Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem is reinstated," he said.

Students have been protesting since 21 September, demanding the reinstatement of former vice-chancellor Prof Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem.

In their press release, the students reiterated that the shutdown and boycott of classes and examinations would continue until their demand was met. They also urged the authorities to take prompt and effective steps to resolve the crisis.