Cuet teachers announce full strike demanding ex-VC’s reinstatement

The Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) Teachers’ Association yesterday (24 September) announced a full strike demanding the reinstatement of Prof Dr Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem, who was removed as vice-chancellor on 21 September.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the teachers’ association held via Zoom at around 9:30pm yesterday. The strike took effect from that night.

A gazette notification issued on 21 September removed Sayem as Cuet vice-chancellor and appointed Prof Sheikh Shariful Alam, a professor at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet), as his replacement. However, the notification did not state a reason for Sayem’s removal.

Students protested on campus that night and began an all-out shutdown the following day, halting classes, examinations and other academic activities.

The teachers’ strike, however, will not cover activities related to residential halls and emergency services, the association said.

The association also said “completely false, baseless and defamatory” information was being circulated about its members on social media. It strongly condemned and protested such activities, according to the meeting’s decision.

“We held our meeting at night. We are going on a full strike demanding the reinstatement of Prof Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem as vice-chancellor. However, activities related to the halls and emergency services will continue,” said Professor Dr Mohammad Ahsan Ullah, president of the Cuet Teachers’ Association.

Earlier yesterday afternoon, the teachers’ association held a press conference to announce its decisions and position. Leaders of the university’s officers’ and employees’ associations were also present at the press conference.