CUET Students Suspend Protest Following Assurances And Arrest Of Bus Driver

Students at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) staged a four-day protest following the tragic bus accident that claimed the lives of two of their peers. However, they have now opted to resume classes, and the blockade on the Chattogram-Kaptai road has been lifted.

This decision came after a meeting between the CUET administration and a 20-member student delegation held from 8:30 pm to 11 pm on Thursday (April 25). During a subsequent press briefing, the students announced that the bus driver from Shah Amanat Paribahan involved in the accident had been apprehended. Additionally, the university administration pledged to establish a fund to compensate the families of the deceased students, with contributions expected from former and current students, faculty, and staff. Moreover, assurances were given regarding the commencement of road widening work on the Chattogram-Kaptai road adjacent to the campus. These commitments led to the suspension of the protest movement.

Prior to this resolution, the 151st emergency meeting of CUET's Academic Council was convened on Thursday afternoon, resulting in a circular issued by the University Registrar (Additional Duty) Sheikh Mohammad Humayun Kabir, announcing the closure of the campus and instructing students to vacate the halls.

In response, some students set buses ablaze and subsequently barricaded the administrative building, where the Vice-Chancellor, deputy vice-chancellor, and registrar were confined. However, after a lengthy three-hour discussion between the protesting students and the university administration later that night, a decision was reached to suspend the movement.

The tragic incident occurred on Monday (April 22) around 4 pm, claiming the lives of two CUET students, Shanto Saha from the 20th batch and Taufiq Hossain from the 21st batch, both of the Civil Engineering Department. Another student, Zakaria Himu from the 21st batch, sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment at Evercare private hospital in Chattogram.