Teachers, officers and employees of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) staged a sit-in outside the Sonali Bank CUET branch on Wednesday (October 7), protesting the withholding of their September salaries and festival allowances.
The staff began the protest in the morning, demanding immediate payment of their salaries and allowances. The payments were subsequently released after the protest, according to reports published later that day.
CUET Staff Association President Jamal Uddin said withholding the September salaries and festival allowances amounted to unfair treatment of teachers, officers and employees. He said the staff would continue their programme until the dues were paid.
According to university sources, the payments had been withheld for 1,087 teachers, officers and employees, including 367 teachers, 208 officers and 512 employees.
The university’s newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr Sheikh Shariful Alam, had sent a letter to the manager of Sonali Bank’s CUET branch on Tuesday (October 6), instructing the bank not to disburse the September salaries and allowances without his approval. The vice-chancellor argued that the salary bills and related documents had been sent to the bank without prior approval.
University officials, however, disputed the requirement for separate monthly approval from the vice-chancellor for regular salary payments. CUET Officers’ Association President Syed Mohammad Ikram said the September bills had been signed by the comptroller and deputy comptroller in line with the existing procedure.
The salary issue emerged amid an ongoing movement involving CUET students, teachers, officers and employees over the appointment of the new vice-chancellor and demands concerning the university administration. University sources said a section of teachers, officers and employees had joined the movement in solidarity with the students.
The delay in payment also caused financial difficulties for some Hindu teachers and employees ahead of Durga Puja. The employees had announced that they would continue their protest if the salaries and allowances were not paid. The dues were ultimately cleared on Wednesday following the sit-in.
