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Students of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology are set to resume classes on Wednesday after a 36-day shutdown, but their movement demanding the reinstatement of former vice-chancellor Professor Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem will continue.
The university’s teachers’, officers’ and employees’ organisations have also decided to resume academic activities in the interest of students while continuing their non-cooperation with newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam.
Nafis Hasan Nafi, a fourth-year student of the civil engineering department, said students wanted classes and examinations to resume as the prolonged closure threatened their academic progress and future.
‘The decision was taken after discussions with department heads and deans. We have also discussed the matter with teachers. The department heads and deans will decide on the examinations,’ he said.
He added that students would also hold discussions with the advisory committee.
‘Resuming classes does not mean that we are backing away from our justified demands. Our movement for the reinstatement of Professor Sayem will continue. The VC’s office building will remain locked. If the new VC tries to enter the campus, we will launch a strong movement again,’ he said.
CUET Controller of Examinations Professor Mainul Islam said students had been urged to consult their department heads and deans before deciding when to resume classes.
‘I have heard that they want to resume classes from Wednesday,’ he said, adding that examination schedules would be prepared and notices issued after receiving letters from the department heads and deans.
During the shutdown, 21 working days of classes were lost, around 850 classes were cancelled and 21 undergraduate examinations across 12 departments were postponed.
Meanwhile, a six-member advisory committee formed by the University Grants Commission to resolve the stalemate is scheduled to visit the campus on Wednesday morning. The committee will hold discussions with teachers, students, officers and employees.
Professor Sayem of CUET’s mechanical engineering department was appointed vice-chancellor for four years on July 27 and assumed office the following day.
He was removed on September 21, 56 days after his appointment, and replaced by Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology.
Students have since been protesting to demand Sayem’s reinstatement, boycotting classes and examinations and holding various protest programmes.
Teachers, officers and employees have also joined the movement and observed work abstention in support of the demand.