CU tragedy: VC’s remarks spark outrage amid administrative failure

The administration of Chittagong University (CU) has been left shaken after back-to-back incidents of violence that resulted in over 1,500 students being injured, many severely, with several still fighting for their lives in intensive care units. What has intensified the shock and anger is not only the scale of the tragedy but also the response—or lack thereof—from the university administration, particularly the Vice Chancellor.

Despite the violence continuing from last night into the day, students alleged that no immediate intervention was made by the university authorities to protect them. Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of chaos and fear as students, who came with books and notes to pursue their academic dreams, were instead rushed to hospitals with life-threatening injuries. In one particularly harrowing case at Park View Hospital, a student with severe cranial injuries was transferred to Dhaka for advanced treatment after doctors confirmed that a third of his skull had been shattered.

Students and observers argue that had the administration acted responsibly and decisively, such a large-scale tragedy could have been prevented. The perceived negligence was further underscored during the Vice Chancellor’s press conference. 

Some of the attacked students expressed their outrage to The Asian Age in this regard. They said: “Instead of expressing remorse or empathy for the injured, the Vice-chancellor, Dr Muhammad Yeahia Akhter, placed blame on the students, like labeling us as ‘miscreants’.” 

Another tragic part of his speech was: he said, “I have spoken multiple times with the Home Adviser regarding the matter, and I have also been in contact with the Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser. He, too, called four or five times to inquire about the situation. I extend my gratitude to them for responding to my request and for deploying the army and police in a timely manner.” 

Adding to the controversy, the VC claimed he had been in constant communication with the Home Adviser and the Chief Adviser’s Office and expressed gratitude for the “timely deployment” of state forces. Yet, just hours earlier, the Pro-VC (Administration) Dr Md. Kamal Uddin, publicly stated that repeated appeals for state assistance had gone unanswered.  He acknowledged the administration’s helplessness, telling reporters at a press conference and said: “We have repeatedly sought help from the Ministry of Home Affairs and from the Chief Adviser’s Office, but no support has been provided.” 

The contradictory statements from top administrators have raised serious questions about transparency, coordination, and accountability within CU’s leadership. And such statements have drawn sharp criticism among students.

For many, the tragedy represents a dark chapter not just in the university’s history but in the global history of higher education. The image of a fully autonomous public university’s students being left defenseless for hours in the face of brutal assaults, both by night and in broad daylight, has prompted demands for justice and accountability.

As the dust settles, students and parents alike are asking: Will those responsible for this administrative failure be held accountable? Or will the voices of more than a thousand injured students fade into silence, their blood a mere footnote in the annals of negligence?