Students of Sylhet Engineering College (SEC) have continued their protest demanding that the institution be brought under Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), with the college remaining shut for more than 24 hours.
The students began their programme around 11:00am on Sunday by blocking the main gate of the administrative building.
The protest was still continuing as of 4:00pm on Monday.
The blockade has left the college principal and 14 teachers, along with six to seven officials and employees, confined inside the administrative building for more than 24 hours.
Principal Md Asaduzzaman said the students were demanding that the college be freed from the Directorate of Technical Education and brought under SUST.
“Due to the students’ movement, around 20 teachers, officials and employees have been confined inside the administrative building for more than 24 hours,” he said, adding that the matter had been reported to the Education Ministry.
During a visit to the campus on Monday afternoon, students were seen demonstrating in front of the main gate and chanting slogans.
As the gate remained blocked, the principal, teachers and other staff inside the building could not leave.
The protesters said all administrative and academic activities would remain suspended until their demand is met.
Established in 2007, Sylhet Engineering College has three departments—Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Computer Science and Engineering. Around 1,000 students are currently enrolled in five batches.
The protesters said most students were taking part in the movement.
They alleged that the college’s operation under the Directorate of Technical Education has raised questions about the distinctiveness and professional recognition of their BSc engineering degrees.
Although they have been raising the issue for a long time, no effective solution has been reached, they said, adding that delays in administrative decision-making have created uncertainty over their academic careers.
The students said they did not want the college to remain under the Directorate of Technical Education and demanded that it be placed under a suitable university to ensure the distinctiveness and recognition of their engineering degrees.
They specifically demanded affiliation with SUST.
The protesters have announced that all activities at the college—including classes, examinations, practical examinations, library services and administrative activities—will remain suspended until their demand is met.
They said the movement would continue until the Education Ministry issues an official notification on the matter.
Meanwhile, a notification issued by the Technical and Madrasa Education Division of the Education Ministry on Sunday transferred Associate Professor Md Asaduzzaman, who had been serving as acting principal of Sylhet Engineering College, to Faridpur Engineering College.
Under the same order, Associate Professor Md Sahid Iqbal of Mymensingh Engineering College was given additional responsibility as principal of Sylhet Engineering College. Both officials were asked to join their new workplaces by Monday.
The protesting students, however, rejected the transfer order.
Fahad, a fourth-year student of the Civil Engineering Department, said the students would not allow the incumbent principal to leave the campus until their main demand was met.
He also said the students would not allow the newly appointed principal to enter the campus.
Fahad said all college activities would remain suspended until their demand was fulfilled.
Around 12:30pm on Monday, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Saida Parvin visited the campus and spoke with the students. The students told her that they would continue their movement until their demand was met.
The students said the authorities could not bypass their main demand through a change of principal or other administrative decisions. They demanded a clear decision from the Education Ministry.