CUET protest: VC, 2 former students fall ill

One of them, engineer Shahriar, was found to have dangerously elevated blood pressure and was advised to be taken to a hospital for further treatment.

At around 1:30AM on Tuesday, CUET Medical Centre physician Dr Md Abdullah and technologist Basu Deb entered the building to examine those who had fallen ill. The protesting students allowed the medical team inside at the vice-chancellor’s request.

According to the physician, Shahriar’s blood pressure was measured at 170/100 mmHg. He received initial treatment, and the doctor recommended transferring him to a hospital for advanced medical care.

Another former student, engineer Titu Md Sohan, had a blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg. Other people inside the building were also given intravenous fluids on medical advice.

“We have two alumni members suffering from complications related to high blood pressure. That is why I called for an ambulance and a doctor,” said Vice-Chancellor Sheikh Shariful Alam.

“As everyone has been confined here for a long time, they are feeling unwell and exhausted,” he added.

According to university sources, Sheikh Shariful Alam arrived on campus in a HiAce microbus at around 9AM on Monday.

Protesting students alleged that he broke the lock on the entrance to the vice-chancellor’s building and entered his office accompanied by leaders of the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

CUET JCD unit president Wasif Rashed, joint general secretary Abu Sufian Al Sabit and organising secretary Biplob Hossain were reportedly present in the vice-chancellor’s office at the time.

Before Sheikh Shariful Alam’s arrival, Professor Dr Arafat Rahman of the Department of Mechanical Engineering had been performing the routine duties of the vice-chancellor on October 11 and 12.

During that period, Sheikh Shariful Alam was expected to be in Dhaka to attend a meeting of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The blockade has raised concerns over the health and safety of those inside the administrative building, particularly as the confinement continues and medical assistance has become necessary.