Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CuetT) Vice-Chancellor Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam has remained confined to his office for nearly 21 hours after protesting students locked the administrative building's main gate, demanding the reinstatement of former VC Professor Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem.
The students locked the gate around 12:30pm on Monday, trapping the vice-chancellor and several others inside. Two people accompanying him fell ill and were taken to hospital around midnight.
As of 10am on Tuesday, students were still staging a sit-in in front of the administrative building.
Around 1:30am, reports emerged that two people inside the building had fallen ill. Dr Md Abdullah of the Cuet Medical Centre went to the scene to provide medical assistance.
The two, engineers Shahriar and Titu Mo Sohan, both Cuet alumni, received first aid before being taken to hospital for further treatment.
Asked about his health, Sheikh Shariful Alam said he was doing well.
“Two of our alumni members are suffering from complications related to high blood pressure, so I called for an ambulance and a doctor. Since everyone has been confined here for such a long time, they are feeling unwell and exhausted,” he said.
The vice-chancellor arrived at the Cuet campus in Raozan at 8:45am on Monday and entered the administrative building after breaking the lock on its front door. Students later locked the building’s main gate around 12:30pm. The water and electricity supplies were subsequently cut off.
Sheikh Shariful Alam, a professor at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet), was appointed Cuet vice-chancellor on September 21.
Students had already been protesting the removal of former vice-chancellor Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem and demanding his reinstatement. They have been enforcing a total shutdown since September 22.
University teachers, officers and staff have also been observing a work stoppage over the same demands. As a result, classes, examinations and other academic activities have remained suspended for nearly three weeks.
