CUET closed as tensions flare over 2 students’ death

Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) was declared closed for an indefinite period on Thursday as students burst into protests demanding road safety after the deaths of two fellows in a fatal road accident on April 22.

The decision to close the university was taken in the 151st emergency meeting of the academic council led by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Rafiqul Alam, said the university's Deputy Director (coordination) Fazlur Rahman.

All academic activities including exams will remain suspended during the period, he said.

The male students were asked to vacate dormitories by 5pm on Thursday and the female students by 9am on Friday.

Two CUET students-Shanto Saha, a 3rd year student and Tawfiq Hasan, a 2nd year student of Civil engineering department, died when a bus of “Shah Amanat” paribahan hit a motorbike on Chattogram-Kaptai road at Zianagar in Rangunia upazila on Monday.

As soon as the news spread, some CUET students vandalised three buses and set one more on fire on that day.

The students took to the streets boycotting classes and examinations and continued their protests till Wednesday blocking the Chattogram-Kaptai road by setting fire on logs and tyres to press home their 9 point demand for a safe road.

They demanded arrest of the bus driver and his assistant and their exemplary punishment.

The other demands include providing compensation to the deceased and bearing the medical expenses of the student injured in the accident, establishment of modern treatment centre with all facilities on the campus, proving ambulances with modern equipment, stopping movement of all local buses including Shah Amanat and AB Travels on the road, examining licences of the buses and CNG-run auto-rickshaws that ply the road , making the Student Welfare Council under accountable and forming students representative group.

Bus driver Md Tazul Islam was arrested from the Kotwali area of Chattogram city on Wednesday afternoon.