CUET students continue shutdown, launch signature campaign for VC reinstatement

Students of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) continued their “complete shutdown” on Wednesday (September 23), demanding the reinstatement of Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem.

The students began a mass signature campaign at the university’s Shaheed Minar premises around 11:20am while keeping the main gate locked as part of their protest. Students, teachers, officers and employees are being asked to sign the campaign, with the signatures to be submitted to the higher authorities.

Mechanical Engineering third-year student Farhan Hasnat Adib said the students launched the protest after Sayem was removed from the VC post on September 21 without prior notice. They staged demonstrations that night and began the complete shutdown the following day.

“We will continue our peaceful movement until our demand is met,” Adib said.

Students also gathered at the main gate from the morning and chanted slogans demanding Sayem’s reinstatement. Their shutdown has brought CUET’s academic and administrative activities to a halt.

On September 21, Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology was appointed CUET’s new vice-chancellor, replacing Sayem, who had assumed office on July 27.

Students protested the decision that night, later locking the vice-chancellor’s office and announcing a shutdown of academic and administrative activities until further notice. The protest entered its second day on Wednesday, with students maintaining the blockade and expanding their campaign through mass signatures.