CUET Students Call for ‘Complete Shutdown’ Over VC Replacement

Students of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) have announced a ‘complete shutdown’ and locked the university’s main gate, demanding the reinstatement of recently removed Vice-Chancellor Professor Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem.

As a result, all classes, examinations and other academic activities at the university have remained suspended since Tuesday morning.

The students began protesting on Monday night following the decision to replace Sayem. During the protest, they also locked the Vice-Chancellor’s residence.

Professor Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem was appointed CUET vice-chancellor on 27 July. He was removed after serving for 56 days, with Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam of the Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering Department at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) appointed as his successor on Monday.

The protesting students have demanded Sayem’s reinstatement. During Monday night’s demonstration, they chanted slogans including, “Our only demand is to have Sayem sir as VC” and “Who do we want in the VC’s chair? We want Sayem sir again.”

CUET’s Teachers’ Association has also called for Sayem to be reinstated. University Registrar Professor Humayun Kabir confirmed that the demand was raised during a general meeting of the association.