Police rescue CUET VC from confinement after 30 hours

Police rescued Prof Sheikh Shariful Alam, vice chancellor of Chittagong University of Science and Technology (CUET), from a building on campus, ending a 30-hour siege enforced by students demanding his resignation.

Police took the vice chancellor out of the building on the condition that he would never again return to the university, an agitated student told reporters.

Around 6:10pm, police officers and district authorities managed to persuade students to allow Prof Shariful Alam to leave the building and receive medical treatment for his deteriorating health.

Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Jahidul Islam Mia and Police Superintendent Masud Alam reached the campus at 5pm to help pacify the students.

The deputy commissioner told reporters: “The Vice-Chancellor was appointed by the government. He is ill. We have come here to take him with us and ensure that he receives proper medical treatment. He was a student here and is an alumnus of this institution. We believe that proper medical care should be ensured for an elderly person.”

Others confined inside the building, including Chhatra Dal leaders, also exited the building under police escort.

While the VC was being led away from the building, students continued chanting “fraud,” “fraud.”

Brewing tensions

Tensions have been brewing on campus since Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam assumed his role as the VC with approval from the Education Ministry on 24 September. He replaced Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem, who was removed only 56 days into the role.

Students and teachers raised allegations that Shariful’s appointment is a result of “partisan politics,” and contend that Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem was no less competent in discharging his duties as VC.

Despite assuming duties on 24 September, newly appointed Prof Sheikh Shariful could not enter the VC office as students kept it padlocked. A large group of teachers and staffers launched an indefinite work boycott.

On Monday morning, he broke the lock and enter the building, with support from local Chhatra Dal leaders.

Learning about his arrival on campus, a section of students took position in front of the VC building around 9:30am.

They demanded that the VC must exit the building by noon.

As Prof Shariful Alam did not pay heed to the ultimatum, the students locked the front doors of the building at 12pm.

They also severed the building’s electricity connections.

Alongside the VC, Chhatra Dal’s CUET unit President Wasif Rashed, Joint General Secretary Abu Sufiyan, and Organisational Secretary Biplob Hossain have also got locked inside the building.