Students of Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) staged demonstrations blocking a road in Gazipur for the second consecutive day on Friday, declaring the newly appointed vice-chancellor “persona non grata” and demanding that the next VC be appointed from among the university’s own faculty members.

After Jummah prayers, several hundred students took position on the Shimultali road adjacent to the university’s main gate and held a protest rally, disrupting vehicular movement for nearly an hour.

Earlier, the protesters brought out a procession from the university’s central mosque premises, which marched across the campus before joining the road blockade.

During the demonstration, students chanted slogans such as, “Our only demand—We want a VC from DUET” and “DUET’s VC must come from DUET.”

Students from different departments joined the programme.

The protesters said DUET, as a specialised engineering university, has a unique academic and administrative structure, and teachers from within the institution have better experience and understanding of its needs and challenges.

They argued that appointing a VC from among DUET’s own senior and qualified faculty members will help ensure the university’s overall development, research activities and academic environment.

Students also expressed concern that appointing an outsider as VA could create complications in preserving the university’s distinct identity and implementing long-term institutional plans.

They urged the authorities to reconsider the recent appointment and appoint a qualified VC from within DUET.

Earlier on Thursday, the students staged demonstration soon after the appointment of Prof Dr Mohammad Iqbal of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology as the DUET vice chancellor.