Nationalist teachers at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) boycotted the Independence and National Day discussion meeting on Thursday after the university administration invited the chief engineer as a special guest. The event took place at the university’s mini auditorium, where the vice-chancellor A.M. Sarwar Uddin Chowdhury and pro-vice-chancellor Sajedul Karim had earlier hoisted the national and university flags and laid floral tributes at the Shaheed Minar.

According to the report, the meeting was chaired by the vice-chancellor, with the pro-vice-chancellor, the dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences, the director of student counseling, and the chief engineer among the guests. Nationalist teacher leaders left the venue before the session began, protesting what they described as a breach of academic decorum. Forum secretary Professor Shah Atikul Haque said the inclusion of the chief engineer as a guest undermined teachers’ dignity, while the teachers’ association president noted that such a practice had not occurred in the university’s 34-year history.

Event convener Professor Mahbubur Rashid stated that the guest list was determined by the university authority, and the pro-vice-chancellor said the selection was handled by the celebration committee formed by the vice-chancellor.