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Classes resumed at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) on Wednesday after a 36-day shutdown over demands for the reinstatement of former vice-chancellor Professor Abu Sayed Muhammad Sayem. However, only one of the university’s 12 departments held classes on the first day, with relatively low student attendance.
Classes in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning began at 9am, while most other departments are expected to resume classes on Thursday and the remaining departments on Sunday, according to students.
A fourth-year student of the department said attendance was low on Wednesday. Although a laboratory session was scheduled under the routine, it was not held.
Meanwhile, a six-member delegation formed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) held meetings with teachers and students to help resolve the ongoing crisis at the university.
The delegation met teachers from 10am to 11am and students from 11:30am to 1:30pm. Meetings with university officers and employees were scheduled for the afternoon.
Despite the resumption of academic activities, students said their movement demanding the reinstatement of former vice-chancellor Professor Abu Sayed Muhammad Sayem would continue.
Teacher, officer and employee organisations have also announced that they would resume academic activities in the interests of students while maintaining their previously declared non-cooperation with the newly appointed vice-chancellor, Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam.
The prolonged shutdown disrupted the academic calendar, with classes suspended for 21 working days and 24 previously scheduled examinations across different departments left unheld.
Students began boycotting classes and examinations and enforcing a shutdown on September 22, demanding Sayem’s reinstatement. On the 34th day of the movement, they expressed willingness to return to academic activities.
The teachers’ association subsequently decided to resume academic activities to prevent further delays to students’ education. The teachers’ association, officers’ association and staff association jointly announced the decision.
However, the teachers’ association said its previously announced work abstention and full non-cooperation would remain in force regarding any campus-based activities by the newly appointed vice-chancellor.
Students also warned that protests would intensify if the new vice-chancellor entered the campus. They said they could announce another shutdown and resume the boycott of classes and examinations if he attempted to take charge on campus.
The crisis began after Professor Sayem was removed from the vice-chancellor’s post on September 21, just 56 days after his appointment. Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology was appointed as his successor.
In protest, students launched the shutdown on September 22, while the teachers’ association and the officers’ and employees’ associations announced a full work stoppage from September 27.
Professor Alam joined the post online on September 24 while the protests were underway. He visited his office on campus for the first time on October 12, but protesting students locked the vice-chancellor’s building that afternoon, leaving him confined inside.
He left the campus the following evening with assistance from the Chattogram deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police.
On October 16, while staying at the Chattogram Circuit House, Professor Alam held an online syndicate meeting attended by six of the 15 members. One of the decisions was to recommend that the Education Ministry form a neutral, high-powered committee to resolve the deadlock and resume academic activities without further delay.
The UGC formed a six-member advisory committee on October 18 to help resolve the crisis. However, the committee does not include any teacher or representative from CUET.
