Newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam entered his office on Monday morning after breaking a padlock on the office gate amid an ongoing indefinite shutdown enforced by students.

The VC arrived on the campus around 9:45 am and entered his office after breaking the lock.

The protesting students expressed anger over his entry and reiterated their refusal to accept him as VC.

Afif Kabir, a third-year student of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, said reinstating former Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Abu Shadat Muhammad Sayem is one of their key demands.

He said the students would continue their “complete shutdown” programme until their demands are met, adding that they criticised the new VC's entry by breaking the lock.

The students alleged that Sheikh Shariful Alam entered the campus early in the morning when many students were asleep or had left for home during the Durga Puja holidays.

They termed the incident disrespectful and said they would not welcome the new VC.

Wasif Rashed, president of the CUET unit of Chhatra Dal, said his organisation's leaders were not present with the VC when he entered the office.

“The VC went to his office with teachers and officials,” he said.

Earlier, Sheikh Shariful Alam was scheduled to attend a University Grants Commission meeting in Dhaka on October 11 and 12.

In his absence, Professor Md Arafat Rahman of the Department of Mechanical Engineering was assigned routine duties as vice-chancellor.

Professor Abu Shadat Muhammad Sayem was removed from the post on September 21, after serving for 56 days, and Sheikh Shariful Alam was appointed as his successor.

Protesting students locked the administrative building that night and began an indefinite shutdown the following day, boycotting classes and examinations.

Meanwhile, teachers, officers and employees have also been observing a strike and work abstention programme demanding Sayem's reinstatement, bringing academic and administrative activities at the university to a standstill.