Students protesting the appointment of a new vice-chancellor at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) locked the gate of the vice-chancellor’s building on Monday, leaving Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam inside.

The students had given him an ultimatum to leave the building by noon. When the deadline passed, they locked the gate at around 12:30pm.

Shariful entered the campus on Monday morning despite the ongoing “complete shutdown” programme. He later broke the lock on the gate of the vice-chancellor’s building and entered his office. 

CUET Chhatra Dal president Wasif Rashed, joint general secretary Abu Sufian Al Sabit and organising secretary Biplob Hossain accompanied him.

After Shariful entered the building, the protesters warned that if he failed to leave by noon, they would declare the building vacant, lock its gate and disconnect its electricity and water supplies.

During the protest, they chanted slogans including “Lock it, lock it, lock the VC building” and “Reject, reject, reject the online VC”.

Students have been enforcing a “complete shutdown” since 22 September to protest Shariful’s appointment and demand the reinstatement of former vice-chancellor Professor Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem.

Teachers, officers and employees of the university have also been observing work stoppages in support of the same demand. Classes and examinations have remained suspended for 20 consecutive days because of the protests and work stoppages.

The CUET Teachers’ Association and the Officers and Employees’ Association are scheduled to hold a press conference later in the afternoon to announce their next course of action in response to the latest developments.