A section of students of Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) enforced a ‘complete shutdown’ programme on Wednesday, protesting the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor which brought academic and administrative activities on the campus to a standstill.
The protesting students locked the university’s main gate, forcing staff and students to climb over the boundary wall to enter and leave the campus.
The protesters announced the ‘complete shutdown’ programme on Tuesday afternoon on the sixth day of their movement.
Earlier, anti-VC protesters enforced ‘red card’ and ‘blockade’ programmes, effectively halting all activities on the campus.
The students vowed to continue their movement until their three-point demand is met.
Scrapping the appointment of Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Iqbal and the selection of a VC from among DUET teachers currently serving at the university are among the demands.
The unrest began after the government appointed Dr Mohammad Iqbal of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology as the new VC of DUET.
Soon after the announcement, a section of the university's students rejected the appointment and demanded a VC appointed from within DUET.