Cuet VC asks Sonali Bank to withhold salaries of 1,087 staff amid ongoing movement

The September salaries and festival allowances of 1,087 teachers, officers and employees of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) have been withheld amid an ongoing movement demanding the reinstatement of former Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem.

The movement, involving students, teachers, officers and employees, entered its 16th day today.

Current Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Sheikh Shariful Alam emailed the manager of Sonali Bank’s CUET branch, asking the bank not to release the funds, alleging that salary and allowance bills, cheques and Disbursement Advice had been sent to the bank without his prior approval.

In the email, the vice-chancellor instructed the bank not to release any funds based on those documents without his approval. The bank has since suspended the disbursement.

CUET currently has 367 teachers, 208 officers and 512 employees. Several university officials have alleged that the salaries were withheld to put pressure on teachers, officers and employees who had expressed solidarity with the movement against the vice-chancellor.

The delay has also left teachers, officers and employees from the Hindu community facing financial difficulties ahead of Durga Puja.