Students protest against new CUET VC by showing ‘red card’
Students protest against the new CUET VC by showing a red card. Photo: Agamir Somoy
Students of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) have continued their protest against the appointment of newly appointed Vice Chancellor Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam. On Saturday morning, students wrote protest slogans and drew satirical graffiti at various locations on the campus. At noon, they staged a protest procession showing a ‘red card’ to the new vice chancellor.
Around 10 am on Saturday, students wrote protest slogans and drew graffiti on the walls at important intersections and various academic buildings of the university. They demanded the withdrawal of the decision to change the vice chancellor and the reinstatement of recently removed Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem.
Meanwhile, in a statement to the media, newly appointed Vice Chancellor Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam described the students’ movement as ‘small’. He claimed that 30 to 35 students were taking part in the protest. He also said preparations were underway to unlock the campus and welcome him.
Students staged a protest procession at noon on Saturday showing ‘red cards’ in response to the newly appointed vice chancellor’s statement. During the procession, they chanted various slogans and rejected the new vice chancellor’s appointment.
The protesting students said the newly appointed vice chancellor’s statement about their movement does not reflect the reality. Teachers, officers and employees have also expressed solidarity with the students’ movement.
The protesting students said they will hold a press conference this afternoon to announce the overall situation of the movement and their next program.
Earlier, on September 21, the government removed CUET Vice Chancellor Professor Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem and appointed Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam of the ETE Department at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) as the new vice chancellor. Students began protesting on campus immediately after the decision. They later locked the vice chancellor’s residence.
As part of the ongoing movement, the CUET Teachers Association announced an all-out work stoppage except for emergency services at a virtual meeting on the night of September 24. The university’s Officers Association and Employees Association also expressed solidarity with the program. Along with the work stoppage by teachers, officers and employees, students’ blockade of the main gate has created a deadlock over the newly appointed vice chancellor joining the campus.
