Academic activities resume at Cuet after 36-day shutdown, attendance low

Academic activities resumed at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) today (28 October) after a 36-day shutdown, but student attendance remained low amid an ongoing movement demanding the reinstatement of the previous vice-chancellor.

Classes in the university’s urban and regional planning (URP) department began at 9am for students from the 2021, 2022 and 2023 batches. However, most students have yet to return to campus.

Department head Prof Fowzia Gulshana Rashid Lopa said classes were held for all three batches, but attendance was relatively low. Attendance was higher among students of the 2021 and 2022 batches, she added.

Fowzia said most students have yet to return to campus and many are expected to arrive tomorrow.

Earlier, protesting students announced in a statement on Sunday night (25 October) that they would resume academic activities from today while continuing their movement demanding the reinstatement of the former vice-chancellor.

The university’s teachers’ association also decided at a general meeting the same day to urge students to return to classes.

Although classes have resumed in the URP department after the prolonged shutdown, low attendance suggests that normal academic activities may take more time to resume fully.

The same situation was observed in several other departments. However, classes had not started in several departments today, Prothom Alo reports. 

UGC committee holds talks with Cuet teachers, students

A six-member advisory committee of the University Grants Commission (UGC) held discussions with Cuet teachers and the teachers’ association today as part of efforts to resolve the university’s ongoing standoff.

The committee met teachers from 10:30am to noon. It then began discussions with students at noon and was scheduled to meet university officers and employees afterwards.

After the meeting with teachers, Prof Rashidul Hasan, dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Planning at Cuet, told The Business Standard that the discussion with the UGC committee was fruitful.

“We presented our demands and they listened to us. We explained the rationale behind the movement. Now they will meet with students, officers and employees. We hope there will be a good solution and our demands will be accepted,” he said.

Students began the shutdown on 22 September protesting the removal of Cuet Vice-Chancellor Prof Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem and the appointment of Prof Sheikh Shariful Alam as his replacement.

They have been demanding the reinstatement of Sayem and cancellation of the appointment of the new vice-chancellor.

Despite the resumption of classes in some departments, students have said they will continue their movement demanding the reinstatement of the former vice-chancellor.