CUET Teachers and Students Announce Conditional Return to Classes After 34-Day Shutdown

Teachers and students of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) want to return to classrooms after a 34-day stalemate, but students have vowed to continue their movement demanding the reinstatement of former vice-chancellor Professor Abu Sayeed Muhammad Sayem.

In an open letter addressed to teachers on Sunday, October 25, students sought their cooperation in creating an environment conducive to resuming classes. On the same day, a general meeting of the CUET Teachers' Association also decided to call on students to return to classrooms.

In the letter, students said the prolonged suspension of classes and examinations had harmed their academic progress and increased uncertainty about their future. They said they did not want these losses to continue and wanted academic activities to resume as soon as possible.

However, the students made it clear that returning to classes should not be interpreted as withdrawing from their movement. They reiterated their demand for Professor Abu Sayeed Muhammad Sayem to be reinstated as vice-chancellor, saying teachers, officers, employees and students were jointly campaigning for his reinstatement. The movement would continue until the demand was met, they said.

The students also warned that they would launch another round of tougher protests if newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam entered the campus. They said they would remain united in pursuing what they described as their legitimate demand.

Appealing to teachers, the students said they did not want conflict or a prolonged shutdown. Instead, they wanted to continue their studies while pursuing their demand. They urged teachers to take steps to resume academic activities while giving serious consideration to their future and their demand for Sayem's reinstatement.

Masum Billah, a fourth-year student of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, said the prolonged suspension of classes and examinations had put their academic lives and future in uncertainty.

"We want normal academic activities to resume as soon as possible. But returning to classes does not mean abandoning our legitimate demand. Our movement demanding Sayem Sir's reinstatement will continue. We want a dignified resolution to the crisis, not conflict," he said.

Meanwhile, the Teachers' Association held a general meeting on Sunday afternoon and decided to urge students to return to classes, said its Joint Secretary Samiun Basir.

"Our general meeting decided to call on students to return to classes. The students have also informed us that they want to return. The remaining decisions will be communicated through a statement," he said.

Basir added that the respective departments would determine their own dates for resuming classes.

On September 21, the Ministry of Education removed CUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Abu Sayeed Muhammad Sayem and appointed Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) as his replacement. In protest against the decision, students launched an all-out shutdown on September 22.

Teachers, officers and employees have also been observing work stoppages and non-cooperation programmes over the same demand. As a result, regular classes, examinations and most other academic activities at the university have remained suspended.