CUET students lock VC inside building

Students locked newly appointed Vice Chancellor Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam inside the VC building at the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) on Monday noon, demanding his resignation and the reinstatement of the previous office-bearer.

A group of Chhatra Dal leaders, who support Prof Sheikh Shariful, was also locked inside with the new VC.

Separately on Monday, a large group of teachers, officers and staffers announced “all-out non-cooperation movement” on campus, demanding the new VC’s resignation.

The teachers and staffers were already observing a “complete duty boycott,” and the new movement is aimed at adding to the pressure.

Tensions have been brewing on campus since Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam assumed his role as the VC with approval from the Education Ministry on 24 September.

Students and teachers allege that the appointment is a result of partisan politics, and contend that the removed VC Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem was no less competent in discharging his duties. Sayem was removed on 21 September, only 56 days after taking office.

Despite assuming duties on 24 September, newly appointed Prof Sheikh Shariful could not enter the VC office as students kept it padlocked.

On Monday morning, he broke the lock and enter the building, with support from local Chhatra Dal leaders.

Learning about his arrival on campus, a section of students took position in front of the VC building around 9:30am.

They demanded that the VC must exit the building by noon.

As Prof Shariful Alam did not pay heed to the ultimatum, the students locked the front doors of the building at 12pm.

They also severed the building’s electricity connections.

Alongside the VC, Chhatra Dal’s CUET unit President Wasif Rashed, Joint General Secretary Abu Sufiyan, and Organisational Secretary Biplob Hossain have also got locked inside the building.