CUET students confine VC in admin building for 20 hours
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) Vice Chancellor Sheikh Shariful Alam remained confined in the administrative building for nearly 20 hours without electricity and water connections.
Several other individuals are staying inside the building with him, two of whom have fallen ill, while the VC is also experiencing fatigue. However, protesting students have said they will continue their movement until the announcement of the VC’s resignation.
On Monday around 12 pm, students locked the main gate of the administrative building, confining Shariful and the individuals accompanying him, after which they disconnected the electricity and water supply and remained outside the building throughout the night.
Around 1 am, two former CUET students inside the building, Shahriar and Titu Sohan, fell ill, prompting duty doctor Mohammad Abdullah from the university medical center to go inside to treat them alongside technologist Basu Deb.
They conducted health checkups on those inside, including Shariful. Around 3 am, Abdullah informed journalists that Shahriar was sent to a hospital in Chattogram city after his blood pressure rose abnormally, while Titu received primary treatment. Shariful said he was healthy, though feeling tired.
For the past 21 days, teachers, students, officers, and employees of the university have been protesting against the removal of former CUET VC Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem just 56 days after he assumed office, disrupting normal campus activities.
On Monday morning, Shariful entered the campus accompanied by several former and current leaders of Jatiotabadi Chatradal (JCD) and then broke the lock to enter his office inside the administrative building. Outraged by the action, students locked the building gate again around 12 pm and cut off the electricity and water connections.
Seeking to normalize the situation, Shariful requested cooperation from the Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner. In response, around 10:30 pm on Monday, Raozan Assistant Commissioner (Land) Ongching Marma visited the CUET campus and held discussions with the protesting students.
Although he requested them to restore the electricity connection, the students refused to comply, reiterating their position to continue the movement until Shariful’s resignation is announced.
Earlier on Monday around 9 pm, students sent chicken polao, bananas, biscuits, and water for Shariful and others, though they made it clear that the electricity connection would not be restored.
Ahnaf Shahriar Arnab, a fourth-year student from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at CUET, said their movement was initially not directed against Shariful. Their primary demand was the reinstatement of former VC Sayem, who was removed after only 56 days.
Arnab added that before Shariful entered the campus, the salaries of teachers, officers, and employees had been withheld. He also accused Shariful of breaking into the office and instigating an attack on CUET buses.
Following these developments, students noted that they are no longer interested in a compromise, adding that once the VC resigns, he will be provided with all amenities, including electricity and water, with full respect.
However, Shariful strongly rejected the allegation of instigating an attack on the buses. He said, “I am confined. How can I carry out an attack?”
Rejecting the accusation, he repeatedly called upon the students to sit for discussions to resolve the matter.
