The protesting students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) freed the vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor, and treasurer from confinement nearly 13 hours after they had been locked inside the administrative building.
They were released around 1am on Tuesday.
At the same time, students left the protest site after announcing fresh programmes from 10am on Tuesday, university sources said.
Speaking briefly to reporters at around 1:30am, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Sazedul Karim said he had returned home but declined to make further comments.
University sources said students temporarily withdrew their protest following late-night discussions with Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr AM Sarwar Uddin Chowdhury.
Voting in the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Central Students’ Union (Sucsu) election was scheduled for Tuesday, marking the first election in 28 years. However, the polls were suspended just hours before voting began following a writ petition filed with the High Court, triggering widespread protests on campus. Students blocked the highway and staged demonstrations throughout the day.
Protesting students later confined the VC, pro-VC and treasurer inside the administrative building from around noon.
Amid the unrest, the VC and pro-VC held a meeting with Sucsu election candidates at around 7:15pm. As no decision was reached, students continued their protest in front of the administrative building. A university syndicate meeting was later held to address the situation.
After the meeting, syndicate member and Civil and Environmental Engineering professor Dr Md Jahir Bin Alam said a fresh writ would be filed on Tuesday. “If a verdict is delivered, the election can be held the following day. This issue must be resolved through the court,” he said.
He added that syndicate members had consulted four to five senior lawyers, who advised submitting a counter-balance in line with court procedures. “If a verdict is delivered, we are keeping the election commission active to proceed immediately,” he said.
“If the verdict comes on Tuesday, the Sucsu election will be held the next day, God willing. Everyone is prepared. If no verdict is delivered, we will consult the lawyers again. There is no reason for the election not to be held, as the election commission has already completed the necessary formalities,” he added.
