The vice-chancellor of the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) and 10 others have been confined in its administrative building for 23 hours, with water and electricity supplies reportedly cut off. Protesting students are demanding the reinstatement of the university’s former vice-chancellor.

Students locked the building’s main gate at about 12:30 pm on Monday. Twelve people were inside, among them Vice-Chancellor Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam, a leader of the CUET branch of the student group Chatradal and alumni members. One later fell ill and was taken out, leaving the vice-chancellor and 10 others confined.

Speaking at about 10 am on Tuesday, Professor Alam alleged the building had been without water, electricity or other utility services since the previous day. Most of those inside were feeling unwell and many mobile phones had run out of charge, raising the risk of losing contact with their families, he said.

He said the condition of one of those inside worsened overnight and that a doctor and an ambulance were called, but protesting students blocked the move off campus. The person was taken towards the city at about 4 am.

Earlier, at about 1:30 am, Dr Md Abdullah from the university’s medical centre entered the building after being told someone inside had fallen ill. Journalists also went in. Engineer Shahriar’s blood pressure was found to be high, and he was advised to go to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

Professor Alam said two alumni members inside were suffering from complications of high blood pressure, and that others felt tired and unwell after the long confinement.

At about 11 am on Tuesday, several representatives of the protesting students entered the building with food for the vice-chancellor and the others.

The students held a news conference on campus late on Monday to demand the vice-chancellor’s resignation. They said the lock on the administrative building would be removed if he resigned and left, and that the siege would otherwise continue until the former vice-chancellor was reinstated.

Assistant commissioner (land) for Raozan upazila, Angching Marma, went to the building at about 11 pm on Monday and asked the students to restore water and electricity supplies. By Tuesday morning those inside had not been released. Professor Alam said they were in contact with the authorities about getting out.

The education ministry removed Professor Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem as vice-chancellor on September 21 and appointed Professor Sheikh Shariful Alam in his place. Students have staged a complete shutdown since the following day to press for Sayem’s reinstatement, and teachers have joined them. Classes and examinations have been suspended since.

It remains unclear how the deadlock at CUET will be resolved.