Chittagong:Students at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) persisted with their shutdown for a second day on Wednesday, advocating for the reinstatement of Prof Dr Abu Shadat Muhammad Sayem as Vice-Chancellor.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the students initiated a mass signature campaign on the university's Shaheed Minar premises while keeping the main gate closed. Participants formed queues to provide their student ID numbers and signatures.
Protesters intend to submit the collected signatures to higher authorities, hoping this action will reinforce their demands. Farhan Hasnat Adib, a third-year Mechanical Engineering student, reported that Prof Dr Sayem's removal on September 21 came without prior notice, prompting immediate protests and a shutdown the following day. The campaign on Wednesday marked the second day of their movement.
Adib also emphasized that the students plan to sustain their peaceful protests until their demands are fully addressed. The protest movement began when students demonstrated against the decision to replace Prof Dr Sayem with Prof Dr Sheikh Shariful Alam of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology. They subsequently locked the Vice-Chancellor residence and declared a halt to all academic and administrative activities until further notice.