Buet students engage in chase, counterchase with police on way to CA’s residence
The incident occurred around 2pm near the National Press Club
Students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) and the police became involved in a chase and counterchase today (27 August) while the former group was on its way to the chief adviser's residence, the state guest house Jamuna, to press home their demands.
The incident occurred around 2pm near the National Press Club, as the students were participating in the second day of the "Long March to Dhaka" programme to press for the implementation of their three main demands.
Earlier in the day, at around 11:30am, a procession set out from the Buet campus and took position on the main road at Shahbagh, causing a halt in traffic there and the surrounding streets.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Additional forces were deployed in the Secretariat and National Press Club areas to manage the situation.
As part of their "March to Dhaka" programme, engineering students began occupying the main road at Shahbagh around 11am.
Their demands include making entry tests mandatory for all candidates seeking recruitment in the ninth grade of engineering or for posts such as assistant engineer, with eligibility restricted to those holding at least a BSc degree.
They also oppose promotions through quotas or by creating equivalent positions under different titles. At the same time, they demand that recruitment tests for the 10th grade (sub-assistant engineer posts) be open to both diploma and BSc holders.
In addition, protesters called for legal measures against individuals using the "engineer" title without holding a BSc degree and for non-accredited BSc engineering programmes to be brought under IEB-BTEB accreditation following proper procedures.
There is already a ban imposed by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on all forms of public gatherings, processions and rallies near the Bangladesh Secretariat and Jamuna, as well as surrounding areas.
Besides Buet, students from other engineering universities such as Kuet, Ruet, Cuet, Sust, MIST, AUST, Butex, as well as engineering faculty members of public and private universities, joined today's blockade.
