Students of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) on Saturday held a ‘red card’ protest against the online joining of newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam, as their demonstrations entered its fifth day.
The protest began around 2pm on the road in front of the university’s medical centre.
Later, the students brought out a procession carrying red cards. The procession went around the university’s Independence Square before gathering at the Central Shaheed Minar premises.
Earlier on September 22, the students began their all-out shutdown programme, suspending academic activities, including classes and examinations. They said they would continue their protest until Professor Dr Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem is reinstated as vice-chancellor.
Professor Sayem, of CUET’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, was appointed vice-chancellor on July 27. Just 56 days after his appointment, he was replaced by Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam of the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET).
The announcement drew strong reactions from the students.
At Saturday’s protest, the students chanted slogans including, “Online VC, red card, red card, red card”, “We do not accept an online VC”, “Reject, reject the online VC” and “We want Sayem Sir”.
Sakibur Rahman, a fourth-year student of the Department of Civil Engineering, said, “We have already seen that Sayem Sir made the utmost effort to modernise CUET through various student-friendly initiatives during his 56 days. The person appointed as the new vice-chancellor described our protests as one involving 30-35 people in his statement. But hundreds of students from each hall are spontaneously taking part. We strongly reject his reprehensible statement and his online joining.”
Earlier, students took position at the university’s main gate from Friday night, blocking the new vice-chancellor from joining. They also held protest programmes at different locations on the campus on Saturday morning.