CU Students Lock Admin Building, Demand Full Housing Rights

Chittagong University (CU) students have locked the administrative building, trapping Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohammad Yahiya Akhtar, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Prof. Dr. Mohammad Shamim Uddin Khan, and Acting Registrar Prof. Dr. Mohammad Saiful Islam inside, as they press for five key demands centered on ensuring 100% housing for all students. The protest, which began at 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 17, 2025, escalated by 2:30 p.m. when students padlocked the building’s gates, vowing not to unlock them until their demands are met.

Chanting slogans like “No brokers, only revolution, revolution!” “100-taka beggars, they call themselves teachers!” and “Give us housing allowance, or vacate your post!” the students made their frustration clear. Their five demands include: guaranteeing housing for all students with an immediate syndicate meeting to outline modern, multi-story hall construction; providing adequate housing allowances for non-residential students until full housing is achieved; identifying and canceling seats of students illegally occupying halls; refunding the 100-taka application fees for students denied hall seats; and abolishing the “doubling” system in women’s halls, replacing it with decker beds.

Tahsan Habib, a history department student, stated during the sit-in, “One of our core demands is 100% housing for students. For years, the administration has failed to address this crisis despite our protests and memoranda. That’s why we’ve locked the administrative building.” Students highlighted ongoing issues like corrupt seat allocations and political favoritism, with many forced to rent expensive city accommodations due to the university’s remote location and unreliable shuttle services.

Proctor Prof. Dr. Tanvir Mohammad Haider Arif responded, “The students have locked the building over several demands. We’ve asked for their demands in writing and will work toward a solution once we receive them.” The administration, however, faced criticism for acting without prior ultimatums, with students warning of further actions, including a potential hunger strike, if their demands remain unmet.

The protest follows months of unresolved grievances, amplified since the July-August 2024 uprising, with students accusing the administration of empty promises. The campus remains tense as students hold their ground, demanding swift action by September 25, 2025, to resolve the housing crisis.