Protesting students lock newly appointed CUET VC inside his office

Protesting students at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) locked the main entrance of the Vice-Chancellor's residence on Monday (October 12), confining newly appointed VC Prof. Sheikh Shariful Alam inside after he failed to vacate the premises within a given deadline.

Following the expiration of a noon ultimatum, students declared the Vice-Chancellor's residence "vacant" shortly after 12:00 PM and proceeded to lock the gates. Demonstrating students also initiated measures to sever the building's electricity and water connections.

Earlier in the morning, students issued a formal deadline demanding that the Vice-Chancellor vacate the building by 12:00 PM, warning that failure to comply would result in the building being locked and essential utilities cut off from the outside. As the deadline passed without compliance, students gathered outside the residence to enforce the blockade.

Prof. Sheikh Shariful Alam officially assumed the role of Vice-Chancellor on September 24 by submitting his joining letter to the President and the Secretary of the Ministry of Education. However, persistent student protests prevented him from entering the campus grounds physically until recently.

Tensions escalated further after administrative routine responsibilities for October 11 and 12 were temporarily assigned to Mechanical Engineering Department faculty member Md. Arafat Rahman—a decision strongly rejected by the demonstrating students.

The campus remains tense as students continue their sit-in outside the Vice-Chancellor's residence.

-SA