CUET Movement Enters 12th Day as Students Protest New VC's Remarks and Seek PM's Intervention

On the twelfth day of ongoing demonstrations at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) demanding the reinstatement of Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem, students staged protests against statements given to the media by the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Sheikh Shariful Alam. Concurrently, they observed a sit-in program seeking the Prime Minister's intervention to resolve the ongoing deadlock and restore a normal academic environment at CUET.

On Saturday (October 3) at 1:30 PM, protesting students initiated their day's program through a sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar. Later at 2:30 PM, they brought out a protest rally reacting against the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor's remarks.

In a media interview on Friday, Professor Dr. Sheikh Shariful Alam commented that four examinations for the 2023-24 academic session were stalled due to the movement. However, students claimed that this information does not align with actual campus realities. According to them, exams for most departments in that academic session have already concluded. Terming the Vice-Chancellor's statement 'misleading and propaganda,' they demonstrated in protest.

The protest march originated from the Central Shaheed Minar, circled Swadhinata Chattar, and concluded back at the Shaheed Minar. During the rally, students chanted various slogans including 'Your VC, My VC—Sayem Sir, Sayem Sir' and 'One Demand, One Point—We Want Sayem Sir as VC'.

Alongside a banner reading 'Seeking Honorable Prime Minister's Intervention to End CUET Deadlock', placards displaying 'PM's Intervention to Restore CUET', 'CUET Revolts for Sayem Sir', and 'PM, Consider Our Appeal' were seen during the rally.

Meanwhile, during the sit-in program, students sought urgent intervention from Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman to resolve CUET's impasse, reinstate Professor Dr. Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem to the post of Vice-Chancellor, and return a normal academic environment for students.

Participating in the program, Shahriar Hisham, a third-year student from the Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering (ETE) department, stated, "We have been demonstrating to demand the reinstatement of our beloved Sayem Sir as Vice-Chancellor. We are angered by the administration's silence. Due to this movement, all our classes and exams remain suspended. We seek intervention from the Honorable Prime Minister so that he quickly resolves our issues. We want to return to class."

Notably, an 'all-out shutdown' program has been ongoing at CUET since September 22. Demanding Sayem's reinstatement, students have observed various programs including rallies, torch processions, and red card displays. Regular academic activities at the university remain suspended due to the movement, with examinations across various academic years in six departments currently postponed.

//DBTech/Ebad Hossain/SPM/MVNO//