National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan said Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) needs a vice-chancellor chosen for qualifications, acceptability and the interests of the university, rather than political allegiance.

“CUET needs a university vice-chancellor, not a political vice-chancellor,” Asif said in a Facebook post on Wednesday, amid a 16-day shutdown at the university over the removal of its VC and appointment of a new one.

He said the crisis at CUET should not be viewed simply as the replacement of one VC with another, arguing that it also raises questions about political allegiance in the university’s administration.

Professor Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem was appointed CUET VC on July 27, 2026, but was removed on the night of September 21, just 56 days after taking office, without any reason being made public, according to Asif.

Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology was subsequently appointed as the new VC.

Students have alleged that the new appointment prioritised political allegiance over qualifications and the interests of the university, Asif said.

“If a university VC is appointed on the basis of allegiance to the government or the ruling political party, that appointment raises serious questions about the university’s administrative independence and academic environment,” he wrote.

Asif said the government had not explained the reason for Sayem’s removal. Meanwhile, the newly appointed VC has been unable to assume office on campus because of the student protests and has been performing his duties online.

Students have staged a series of protests, including a complete shutdown, torch processions, a mass signature campaign, graffiti and red-card demonstrations. Teachers, officers and employees later joined the movement and went on work abstention in solidarity with the students.

Asif criticised the authorities for failing to resolve the students’ demands despite the prolonged protests. He also alleged that attempts had been made to discredit the protesters by questioning their political affiliations.

“Political labels cannot be used to dismiss students’ legitimate demands,” he said.

He further alleged that the newly appointed VC had acted arbitrarily while performing his duties online, including sending an email to a bank to withhold the salaries of university officers and employees.

Asif said CUET students did not want the university to be controlled by any political party. Rather, they wanted an administration that would give the highest priority to the interests of the university and its students.

Academic activities at CUET have remained stalled, with classes, examinations, laboratory work and administrative activities suspended.

“The responsibility for this cannot be placed on the students,” Asif said.

He urged the government to explain the decision to appoint the new vice-chancellor, hold discussions with the students and address their demands to restore a normal academic environment at CUET.