CUET VC Denies Resignation, Vows to Resume Duties After Recovery

Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Sheikh Shariful Alam has said he will return to campus and resume his duties after recovering from illness. The government has also advised him to return to the campus as soon as he recovers. He told The Daily Campus on Wednesday (October 14) morning while receiving treatment at a hospital.

“I was in an inhumane environment. I developed severe chest pain and a severe headache as a result. The administration helped me and admitted me to hospital. I am currently receiving treatment, and a specialised medical board has been formed to assess my condition. The board will provide an update on my physical condition today. Once I recover, I will resume my responsibilities at the university,” Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam said.

Rejecting reports that he had resigned and would not return to the CUET campus, the vice-chancellor said he had made no such statement or announcement.

“I have not made any statement saying that I have resigned or that I will never set foot on the CUET campus again. You saw that when I was being taken away, I was not in a condition to speak. I urge those publishing such reports to ensure their news is truthful and objective,” he said.

The vice-chancellor added that the government had assured him of full cooperation. He said the government had wished him a speedy recovery and advised him to return to campus. Addressing the protesting students, Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam urged them not to waste their valuable years of education.

“Do not waste your invaluable student life. You may be getting used by an interest group. You are intelligent enough, and I firmly believe you will not allow anyone to use you. I came to Chattogram to carry out the state responsibility entrusted to me. I did not come here to serve any personal interest or implement any political agenda,” he said.

Earlier, the CUET vice-chancellor and 10 others were rescued from the campus after being confined for around 30 hours. They were taken out on Tuesday at around 6pm in the presence of Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mia and Superintendent of Police Md Masud Alam.

The vice-chancellor was then taken out of the campus in an ambulance under tight police security and admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for treatment.

The incident began on Monday (October 12), when the newly appointed vice-chancellor broke the lock on the main gate of CUET's administrative building and entered the premises with outsiders at around 8:45am. Following the incident, protesting students gave him until noon to leave his office.

When he failed to leave within the deadline, the students locked the building's gate again at around 12:30pm, confining the vice-chancellor and others inside. They remained confined for around 30 hours before the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police arrived on Tuesday evening and arranged their rescue. The vice-chancellor subsequently left the campus in an ambulance under police escort.