CU students go for ‘complete shutdown’ demanding immediate VC appointment

Within a few hours of issuing a one-day ultimatum to appoint a vice-chancellor, Chittagong University students on Tuesday (17 September) afternoon again announced a “complete shutdown” demanding the appointment immediately.

At a protest rally held on Shaheed Minar premises of the university, student Neyamat Ullah Farabi announced it in the afternoon.

“We’re supposed to be at the reading table and in the classroom. But such a deadlock has been created that we have been forced to take to the streets leaving our studies. Those who are adopting diplomacy over the appointment of VCs will not be spared. They have to answer to the nation,” he alleged. ‘

He announced, “We are announcing a complete shutdown of the campus until the VC’s notification comes. From now on, the administrative building and the two main gates of the university will be closed. The Vice-Chancellor himself will come and open the lock and enter the campus. We will not allow this to continue.”

Earlier on Tuesday noon, students formed a human chain and blocked the main gate of the campus, demanding the appointment of a VC and other key administrative positions by Wednesday.

During the protest, students warned of tougher measures if their demands were not met within a day. They gathered at the main gate of the university’s Zero Point around noon holding the human chain for nearly two hours.

The students expressed their frustration, stating, “We have faced discrimination in the past, and we have ousted the fascist government. We no longer want to be treated unfairly. While Dhaka, Jahangirnagar, and Rajshahi universities have VCs, CU is left without one, despite our leading role in movements like the quota reform protests and government ousting.”

They further added, “A mass uprising has occurred through the self-sacrifice of students. Even though VCs have been appointed at Dhaka, Jahangirnagar, and Rajshahi universities, CU remains without a VC, leaving it without leadership and disrupting both academic and administrative functions. Despite repeated ultimatums, there has been no resolution. If a VC is not appointed quickly, we will intensify our protests starting tomorrow.”

On August 12, under pressure from students, CU’s VC Prof Dr. Abu Taher, along with the proctorial body and all hall provosts, resigned. Since then, the university has been operating without a VC for over a month, significantly disrupting academic and administrative activities.

Students have been protesting continuously for the past five days, starting on September 8, demanding the immediate appointment of a VC and a Pro VC.

Sohrawardi Azad Suman, a former student and PhD researcher, remarked on the situation, “It is very unfortunate that while most universities in the country have appointed Vice-Chancellors, Chittagong University has not. This has led to stagnation at the university. It is crucial to appoint a Vice-Chancellor and other administrative positions as soon as possible to resume educational activities. I support the students’ demands.”