CUET VC held inside office for 22 hours amid student protest

The newly appointed vice-chancellor of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam, has been confined to his office for nearly 22 hours amid a student protest demanding the reinstatement of his predecessor.

Students locked the main gate of the university’s administrative building around 12:30pm on Monday, preventing the vice-chancellor and others inside from leaving. As of 11am on Tuesday, they remained unable to get out.

The protesting students said Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam entered his office at around 9am on Monday after breaking the lock on the administrative building’s gate, accompanied by leaders and activists of the CUET unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

After learning of his arrival, the students gave him until noon to leave the building. When he failed to do so, they locked the main gate at 12:30pm.

Those trapped inside include CUET Chhatra Dal president Wasif Rashed, his associates, and several current and former students.

According to the latest information, between 10 and 11 people are inside the building.

At a news conference on Monday evening, the protesters demanded the newly appointed vice-chancellor’s resignation. They then staged a sit-in outside the administrative building throughout the night. Their protest was continuing until at least 9am on Tuesday.

At 1:30am on Tuesday, reports emerged that someone inside the building had fallen ill. He was subsequently advised to seek treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

Asked about his own health, Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam said he was well. However, he said two alumni members inside the building were experiencing complications related to high blood pressure. He had called an ambulance and a doctor to attend to them. Others inside were also feeling unwell and exhausted after being confined for such a long period, he added.

Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam, who previously served at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), was appointed CUET vice-chancellor on September 21. Students began protesting after the removal of his predecessor, Professor Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem, demanding his reinstatement.

Since September 22, students have been enforcing an all-out shutdown. University teachers, officers and employees have also been observing work stoppages in support of the demand.

Classes, examinations and other academic activities have remained suspended for nearly three weeks because of the protests. The latest incident, in which the new vice-chancellor has been confined to his office, has further deepened the university’s stalemate.