New VC joins amid shutdown at CUET

Amidst the ongoing stalemate following students’ movement demanding the reinstatement of the previous vice-chancellor (VC), the new VC of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) joined on Thursday.

New VC Professor Dr Sheikh Shariful Alam confirmed that he has joined online.

“I joined online around 4pm. The secretary of the ministry was informed about the joining,” he said.

“I will go to the campus very soon. Before that, the issues will be resolved after discussing with all stakeholders,” he added.

Notably, the students continued the protest programme for the third consecutive day on Thursday demanding the reinstatement of the previous VC Professor Dr Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem.

Academic activities at the university remained suspended on the day.

Sources said the students started taking position in front of the main gate of the university from 8am to press home their demands. They later gathered in front of the central Shaheed Minar.

They also formed a human chain there around 11:30am and chanted slogans on support of their movement.

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The university Examination Controller Professor Moinul Islam said along with the students, teachers were also participating in the movement and scheduled exams of six departments were not held on Thursday.

The students said the Ministry of Education appointed Professor Dr Sheikh Shariful Alam as the new CUET VC through a gazette notification on Monday, replacing Professor Sayem only 56 days after he took charge.

They said the notification did not mention any reason for the sudden change.

Protesting the decision, the students brought out a procession on Monday night and later announced that their programmes would continue until Professor Sayem was reinstated.

In their statement, the students outlined several reasons for demanding Professor Sayem’s reinstatement.

They claimed Professor Sayem had maintained direct communication with students from the beginning of his tenure, listened to their problems and taken initiatives to address them, which they said had helped build trust between the administration and students.

The students also said the VC’s academic and administrative experience had helped launch initiatives aimed at students’ academic and professional development, higher education opportunities and international exposure.