Photo: Collected
Students are observing a ‘complete shutdown’ for the second consecutive day demanding the reinstatement of Professor Dr Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem, the removed vice-chancellor of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET). As a result, the university’s academic and administrative activities have virtually come to a halt.
The students have been demonstrating by taking position on the campus since Wednesday (23 September) morning. The teachers’ association and the organisations of officers and employees have also expressed solidarity with them.
The students have announced that they will continue the movement until the vice-chancellor is reinstated.
A mass signature campaign is under way as part of the movement. At the time, students were seen on the campus passing time in various activities, including cricket and football.
The students said their demand is that Sayem sir be reinstated to the post of vice-chancellor. The shutdown will continue until the demand is met.
Meanwhile, a meeting of Chattogram’s divisional commissioner and the district administration with the leaders of the teachers’ association is scheduled to be held to end the deadlock at the university. It has been said that the meeting is to be held at Chattogram Circuit House after 10am, where ways to normalise the situation at the university will be discussed.
Professor Dr Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem took charge as vice-chancellor of CUET on 27 July. On Monday, 56 days after he took charge, he was removed and a new vice-chancellor was appointed.
The students took to the movement from Monday night demanding the reinstatement of the removed vice-chancellor. The ‘complete shutdown’ began from Tuesday. As the programme continued on the second day as well, a deadlock is prevailing in CUET’s academic and administrative activities.
