The crisis at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) deepened on Monday as teachers, officers and employees declared total non-cooperation with newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam after he entered his locked office accompanied by Chhatra Dal leaders, defying an ongoing student shutdown.
The CUET Teachers’ Association, Officers’ Association and Staff Association jointly announced the program at a press conference around 3:15pm, saying they would neither recognise the new vice-chancellor nor cooperate with him in carrying out administrative duties.
The three associations also decided to continue their existing work stoppage until their demands are met, further prolonging the suspension of academic and administrative activities at the university.
The announcement followed a tense confrontation earlier in the day when the new vice-chancellor entered the campus for the first time since his appointment, accompanied by leaders of the university’s Chhatra Dal unit.
University sources said the vice-chancellor arrived in a microbus on Monday morning and entered the campus identifying himself simply as a teacher.
He subsequently entered the vice-chancellor’s residence after its locked gate was opened by force and took his seat in the office.
CUET unit Chhatra Dal President Wasif Rashed, Joint General Secretary Abu Sufian Al Sabit and Organising Secretary Biplob Hossain were present with him.
“We entered together,” Abu Sufian Al Sabit told reporters.
‘CUET family does not accept him’
At Monday’s press conference, Teachers’ Association President Professor Md Ahsanullah announced the joint decision to reject the vice-chancellor and launch total non-cooperation.
“We vehemently reject the manner of the VC’s arrival on campus with the assistance of outsiders. The VC must bear full responsibility for any untoward situation that may arise from this incident,” he said.
“Our CUET family does not accept him as the vice-chancellor,” he added.
Ahsanullah also alleged that a students’ bus had been attacked earlier in the day.
“Today, terrorists attacked our students’ bus. We are deeply concerned about the attack on the students,” he said.
He urged the government to intervene immediately and resolve the continuing crisis.
The three associations said their work stoppage and non-cooperation program would continue until their previously announced demands were fulfilled.
Students lock VC inside building
News of the vice-chancellor’s arrival triggered fresh protests, with students gathering outside his residence from around 9:30am.
They demanded that he leave the building by noon and warned that their movement would intensify if he refused.
When the deadline passed, protesting students padlocked the building’s gate, leaving the vice-chancellor and several Chhatra Dal leaders and activists inside.
The protesters also said they had disconnected the electricity supply to the residence.
Mahira Tazrin, a Mechanical Engineering student participating in the protest, said the vice-chancellor had entered by breaking a lock previously placed by students.
“We had issued an ultimatum, but he did not heed it. So, we have locked the gates again. Our agitation will continue until our demands are met,” she said.
Chhatra Dal unit President Wasif Rashed criticised the protesters, saying they were opposing a government decision.
“They are protesting against a government decision. Even this morning, one of our leaders was assaulted while bringing flowers,” he said.
According to student sources, Chhatra Dal Organising Secretary Biplob Hossain was carrying flowers and food towards the vice-chancellor’s office when protesters obstructed him.
At one stage, the flowers and food were reportedly snatched from him and thrown away.
Shutdown continues since September 22
The confrontation stems from the government’s decision to replace the university’s vice-chancellor last month.
On September 21, the Ministry of Education removed Professor Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem from the post and appointed Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) as his successor.
Students began a complete shutdown the following day, demanding Professor Sayem’s reinstatement.
Teachers, officers and employees also launched a work stoppage, bringing classes, examinations and administrative activities to a halt.
The protests had prevented the newly appointed vice-chancellor from entering the campus until Monday.
His arrival, rather than easing the deadlock, has now prompted the university’s three employee associations to escalate their protest through a formal declaration of total non-cooperation.
With students continuing their shutdown and teachers and staff refusing to work with the new administration, the university faces a deepening institutional impasse.
