Demand Resolution to VC Appointment Stalemate
CUET Students Discuss Ongoing Movement
- Students discuss the movement’s current situation and next steps
- Delegation’s visit and meeting with the UGC committee draw criticism
- Students warn of tougher action if the deadlock continues
Students at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) held a consultation meeting on Sunday to discuss the ongoing deadlock over the appointment of the university’s vice-chancellor and ways to press their demands. The meeting took place at the university’s central auditorium from 3pm to 4pm on 1 November, with students from different departments and academic years, from first year to final year, taking part.
The discussion covered the overall situation of the movement, the visit to campus by a committee formed by the University Grants Commission (UGC), and the issues raised during the committee’s meeting with students. Participants also discussed the current state of the movement and possible next steps in light of students’ questions and opinions.
After the meeting, students brought out a protest procession from in front of the university’s Central Shaheed Minar. The procession passed through Swadhinata Chattar before concluding. During the march, students chanted slogans including, “VC sir, VC sir, Sayem sir, Sayem sir” and “A VC who beats students is not my VC.”
Following the procession, Zulqarnain Mihad, a fourth-year student of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, said the UGC committee’s alleged threats would not force students to abandon their movement.
“Whatever threats the UGC committee made to us, such remarks cannot suppress our movement in any way. The current government is sufficiently student-friendly. But even after 40 days, we have received no response, which is extremely disappointing,” he said.
He further alleged that the committee had been formed through an “illegal syndicate meeting” and that students had met with its members, but were disappointed by their conduct.
“They directly told us that our future was supposedly bleak and that they would not even provide money for our tissue paper. Their remarks left us disheartened. The longer the resolution is delayed, the more compelled we will be to take tougher steps,” he said.
The allegations and statements in this report are attributed to the student quoted and have not been independently verified.
//DBTech/CRH/SME/MVNO//
