Shutdown announced once again at CUET

Bangla Press Desk: Professor Kazi Delwar Hossain, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), has been assigned the routine duties of the Vice-Chancellor. This responsibility was delegated to him as the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam, is traveling to Dhaka to attend a meeting of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, in protest against this decision, the protesting students have announced a one-day, total academic shutdown for Monday (November 2). During this period, all classes and examinations at the university will remain suspended.

The assignment of these routine duties to Professor Delwar Hossain was communicated via an e-mail on Sunday (November 1). The message stated that the Vice-Chancellor would be in Dhaka on Monday for a UGC meeting. To ensure the continued smooth operation of the university’s administrative and academic activities, Professor Delwar Hossain has been authorized to carry out the routine administrative and academic functions of the Vice-Chancellor, in addition to his own existing responsibilities.

According to the e-mail, this arrangement took effect on Sunday (November 1) afternoon. Professor Delwar Hossain will continue to perform these duties until the Vice-Chancellor returns to campus and resumes his responsibilities on Monday (November 2) evening.

Regarding this, Vice-Chancellor Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam stated, "I am traveling to Dhaka for official business. In my absence, Professor Dr. Delwar Hossain, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, will handle the routine duties."

Meanwhile, in an urgent statement issued on Sunday evening, the students announced a one-day, total academic shutdown for tomorrow in protest against this decision.

The statement noted that following a prolonged period of protest and deadlock, the students had returned to classes and examinations, keeping in mind their own futures and the university's academic environment. However, they maintained their firm stance that they do not accept the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor and that he must not interfere in the normal operations of the campus.

The statement further added that the decision to assign the Vice-Chancellor’s routine duties to another individual was made in disregard of the students' previously declared position. They reject the attempt to establish authority on campus through a proxy, rather than the Vice-Chancellor being present in person. During the shutdown, students will boycott all classes, examinations, and administrative activities—even those conducted as part of routine operations. They demand the reinstatement of the former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem.

Regarding this, Mahtab Haque, a fourth-year student at the university, stated, "After a long-standing protest, we had returned to our classes and examinations, keeping our academic future in mind. However, the decision to delegate the Vice-Chancellor's routine duties to someone else—ignoring our previously stated position—is unacceptable. In protest against this, we have called for a shutdown on Monday (November 2). We want Professor Sayem to be reinstated. Our movement will continue until our demands are met."

BP/SP