Cuet paralysed for 13 days as new VC runs office from Circuit House

Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) has remained paralysed for 13 days as students continue their "total shutdown" protest against the change of vice-chancellor, halting classes and examinations.

Teachers, officers and employees have also joined the movement through work stoppages and sit-ins. Meanwhile, newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam has been conducting the university's official activities from Chattogram Circuit House instead of the campus.

Yesterday (4 October), teachers, officers and employees held a sit-in in front of the vice-chancellor's building, demanding the reinstatement of former Vice-Chancellor Professor Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem.

The prolonged protests have stalled the university's academic and administrative activities, with several final examinations also postponed.

VC replaced after just 56 days

On 21 September, the education ministry issued a notification removing Professor Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem of Cuet's Department of Mechanical Engineering as vice-chancellor and appointing Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam of the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET).

Sayem had assumed office on 27 July, meaning he was removed just 56 days after taking charge.

Students began protesting on the night of 21 September and later locked the vice-chancellor's residence and office. They launched a "total shutdown" the following day, halting classes and examinations.

New VC operating from Circuit House

Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam assumed office on 24 September without entering the campus. He sent his joining letter to the education secretary and joined online and has since been running university activities from Chattogram Circuit House.

"I am trying to stay in contact with teachers, officers and employees online from the Circuit House. Unfortunately, no one is responding much," he said.

He said he had called a meeting to discuss salaries and allowances and emailed 11 officials of the comptroller's office, but none responded or attended. He also said he was trying to communicate with students through mobile phones, text messages and email to clear their misconceptions and gain their trust.

Teachers, officers and employees join movement

Students held a torch procession on 24 September against the new VC's appointment. The Cuet Teachers' Association held an emergency meeting that night and expressed solidarity with the students, with its members beginning a work stoppage the same day. Officers and employees later joined the programme.

Teachers, officers and employees have been holding sit-ins in front of the vice-chancellor's building since 27 September, including on Sunday.

Cuet Officers' Association President Engineer Syed Md Ikram said the students' absence made it impossible to conduct academic activities and that their demand appeared reasonable. The officers were therefore supporting the movement and observing a work stoppage, he said.

Cuet Staff Association President Jamal Uddin said Sayem's removal after only 56 days was unprecedented and demanded his immediate reinstatement, questioning who had influenced the decision.

Protest programmes continue

Teachers, students, officers and employees have held joint and separate programmes, including torch processions, red-card demonstrations, "Why 56?", blindfolded protests, mask processions and protest concerts. Students also organised a photography exhibition on 1 October.

Mechanical Engineering fourth-year student Zulkarnain Mihad said Sayem was removed despite being student-friendly and that reinstating him remained their sole demand.

Another fourth-year student, Mahatab Haque, said students could not continue protesting indefinitely, as they needed to graduate. He said various programmes had been organised to draw the government's attention and urged it to accept their demand.

Teachers seek government intervention

Cuet Teachers' Association Joint Secretary Md Samiun Basir said the association had formally drawn the government's attention to the crisis and sent letters to the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the education ministry.

He said discussions were also taking place at the highest level of government and urged authorities to resolve the crisis quickly.

Teachers' Association President Professor Mohammad Ahsanullah said Sayem had continued previous initiatives and introduced several new initiatives for the university's welfare.

He also said professors from universities in England, Australia, Norway and the United States had written to the government criticising Sayem's removal.

Alleged ministerial lobbying denied

There have been allegations that lobbying and vested interests of a state minister led to Sayem's removal and the appointment of the new VC.

Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam denied the allegation, saying the vice-chancellor's appointment was made by the president following university rules and legal procedures. He termed the allegation "imaginary and untrue".

Salaries and allowances remain uncertain

Teachers, officers and employees had not received their salaries and allowances by 4 October, although these are normally paid by the first day of the month. Festival allowances for Hindu employees ahead of Durga Puja have also remained unpaid.

The new VC had instructed 11 officials of the comptroller's office to attend an online meeting on 27 September to discuss salary payments, but none attended due to the protests.

However, the comptroller's office later sent the salary sheet by email on 29 September without informing the university administration, according to the report.

Exams postponed, session jam feared

Several semester and final examinations have been postponed, leaving students' academic activities uncertain and raising concerns over a session jam.

Students are demanding Sayem's reinstatement, cancellation of Sheikh Shariful Alam's appointment and restoration of a normal academic environment.

They have said they will return to classes if the crisis is resolved, but the shutdown and protests will continue until Sayem is reinstated and normalcy restored.

As of 4 October, Cuet's academic and administrative activities had remained disrupted for 13 consecutive days.