CUET Resumes Partial Academic Activities After 36-Day Stalemate

The academic activities of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) partially resumed on Wednesday after remaining suspended for 36 days, with classes in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning beginning at 9am and continuing until 11am.

However, an on-site visit found that classes were held in only one of the university's 12 departments. Abdullah Talbi, a fourth-year student of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, said classes were held with a small number of students.

“Today, classes were held with a small number of students. According to the routine, we were supposed to have a lab session, but after discussing the matter with the department, we postponed today's lab,” he said.

Fouzia Gulshana Rashid Lopa, head of the department, said classes were held for students of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 batches, although attendance remained low.

“We had classes at 9am. The 21, 22 and 23 batches were involved. But only a few students came. Classes were held for all batches, but student attendance was low. Attendance was relatively higher among the 21 and 22 batches. Classes for all batches were more or less held. Most students are yet to return, and perhaps more of them will come tomorrow,” she said.

Despite returning to classrooms, the students' dispute over the university's vice-chancellor remains unresolved. They have announced that they will continue their movement demanding the reinstatement of former vice-chancellor Professor Dr Abu Sayeed Mohammad Sayem.

The students said academic activities would continue alongside their protest. Meanwhile, a six-member delegation formed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to resolve the ongoing crisis held meetings with teachers and students. The delegation was also scheduled to meet university officers and employees in the afternoon.

The protests began after a new vice-chancellor was appointed on September 21. The following day, CUET students launched a complete shutdown demanding the cancellation of the appointment. As the students continued their programmes, the university's administrative activities, classes and examinations came to a halt.