Published : 24 Sep 2026, 03:21 PM
Updated : 24 Sep 2026, 03:39 PM
The Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) has remained shut for a third day as students continue a “shutdown” programme demanding the reinstatement of Prof Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem as vice-chancellor (VC).
As part of the programme, the protesting students conducted a human chain demonstration at the campus's central Shaheed Minar premises around 12:15pm on Thursday.
At the protest, the students demanded the withdrawal of both the notifications regarding the dismissal of Prof Sayem and the appointment of the new vice-chancellor.
Mustafa Khalid bin Shams Arian, a fourth-year student of CUET, read out an open letter to the prime minister during the demonstration.
It said, "We are away from classes, exams and labs day after day. The time that we should be spending at our desks, in the laboratory or preparing for exams is now being spent in uncertainty, standing and waiting. Every day of this struggle is taking something away from us."
The letter stated that the notice on the vice-chancellor did not explain why such a “sudden change” was made.
“Our objection is not about the person or qualifications of the new VC. We do not want to lose the trust and continuity that the students have built with Prof Sayem Sir in this short time and the work and plans that have been started regarding education, research, higher education and opportunities for students.”
The students said in the letter, “The price we are paying for this demand is not small. Our classes are suspended, labs are suspended, exams are uncertain. Each passing day means that the academic calendar of each batch is further delayed; some internships, some scholarship applications, some higher education preparations, some job plans become more uncertain.
“Yet we are still here because some demands cannot be measured only by calculating the pros and cons. In some cases, you have to stand by your beliefs even after you know the losses you will suffer. This stance is not a festive one, a holiday, or a thrill for us. Behind it are sleepless nights, loss of studies, worries about family, fears for the future and the pressure of falling further behind every day.”
They continued, “We do not want to prolong this sacrifice; but returning without any solution after all this would make that sacrifice meaningless for us.
“Our position is therefore clear and limited. We have no personal stance against the newly appointee. We want Prof Dr Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem Sir to be reinstated as the vice chancellor of CUET. At the same time, we want a quick solution to this crisis, so that not a single day is wasted unnecessarily and we can return to the normal academic activities of the university.”
The open letter said, “We want to see our demands fulfilled, we want to return to classes, to labs, to examination halls.
“This long uncertainty should end by reinstating Prof Dr Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem Sir as the vice chancellor of CUET – this is our only desire.”
Prof Sayem, a professor of CUET’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, had taken charge on Jul 27.
On Sept 21, Prof Sheikh Shariful Alam, a professor of the Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), was given the responsibility of the new Vice-Chancellor of CUET.
Sayem was removed just 56 days after taking charge, and a new vice-chancellor was appointed. The decision angered students, who launched a protest movement that night.
A shutdown was observed on Tuesday as part of that movement. On Wednesday, CUET was also paralysed by the students' programme demanding Prof Sayem’s reinstatement.
On Thursday, students continued the shutdown, keeping the main gate of the campus closed and remaining inside.
