CUET VC freed after 30-hr confinement 

CHATTOGRAM, Oct 13: The newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of Chattogram University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Prof. Dr. Sheikh Shariful Alam, along with 10 others, were freed at around 6 pm on Tuesday from nearly 30 hours confinement at the CUET building.

They were confined inside the administrative building by protesting students on Monday afternoon.  Due to a prolonged lack of electricity, water, and gas supplies disconnected by the demonstrators, several confined individuals experienced severe exhaustion, and at least two alumni fell ill.

At around 1:00 AM on Tuesday, medical staffers from the CUET Medical Center were allowed entry into the building. A physician checked the blood pressure of an alumnus, Engineer Shahriar, recording a dangerously high systolic reading of 170/100 mmHg.  

Due to acute complications related to high blood pressure, the physician advised that he be urgently transferred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH). Another alumnus, Engineer Titu Md. Sohan, also registered a high blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg.  

Doctors presented conflicting evaluations regarding the VC’s own physical condition on Tuesday afternoon. Dr. Shahabuddin from the university’s medical center initially reported that the VC’s blood pressure was stable at 120/80 mmHg, attributing his discomfort solely to the prolonged confinement. However, an hour later, Dr. Tiplu Kanti Dey from the Raozan Upazila Health Complex found the VC’s blood pressure elevated to  150/100 mmHg, noting that the VC complained of left-sided chest pain and expressed willingness to go to the hospital for a check-up.