Polytechnic students block roads in Dhaka, other districts over 4-point demand
The agitating students said they had previously launched movements with six-point demands, which the government had accepted. They insisted that those pledges must now be executed in full.
Highlights
- Protests across Dhaka, Gazipur, Barishal, Sylhet, Kushtia, Dinajpur, Chapainawabganj
- Students demand punishment of those who threatened them
- They want implementation of their previously announced 6-point demand
Students of polytechnic institutes across different districts have blocked roads in Dhaka's Tejgaon, Chandana intersection in Gazipur, Dhaka-Barishal Highway and Chowhatta area in Sylhet as well as in several other districts to press home a four-point demand, including withdrawing all support for the "unjustified" three-point demand of BSc engineering students.
Bite-Sized: Why are Polytechnic students blocking roads across Bangladesh?
The students under the banner "Karigori Chhatra Andolon" started their blockade at Tejgaon around 11:30am, and withdrew their blockade around 2pm. They were letting vehicles pass, bringing the traffic condition to normal, but had not left their position beside the road.
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Earlier, vehicular movement came to a halt, leading to gridlock in the surrounding areas due to the blockade, said Tania, additional deputy commissioner of Tejgaon Traffic Division..
The students' four-point demand includes:
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Ensure the maximum punishment for those involved in the "Engineering Rights Movement" who publicly threatened to shoot and slaughter diploma engineers.
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Immediately halt all activities conducted in support of the unjustified three-point demand of BSc engineering students.
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Fully implement the six-point framework and recommendations earlier submitted by Karigori Chhatra Andolon, Bangladesh (Technical Students' Movement).
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Introduce a one-channel education system in engineering.
Speaking to reporters, the agitating students said they had previously launched movements with six-point demands which the government had accepted but not yet implemented. They insisted that those pledges must now be executed in full.
The students alleged that an influential group is deliberately undermining technical education to weaken the polytechnic system and restrict access to the engineering profession.
They also accused authorities of discriminating against polytechnic graduates in employment and higher education opportunities.
"A powerful syndicate has captured the technical education system. They are closing our paths. We will not tolerate this injustice anymore," said one protester, adding that demonstrations would continue until their demands are met.
Polytechnic students also blocked the Dhaka-Barishal Highway in Barishal.
Students also staged a demonstration in Feni, blocking the Dhaka-Chattogram railway.
Gazipur
A protest was organised under the banner of the Diploma Engineers' Welfare Foundation in Gazipur.
The blockade began around 12pm, halting all traffic between Dhaka and Joydebpur as well as the Shimultali route. The blockade was lifted around 5:30pm.
Job-seeking technical students and learners from institutions including MIST Polytechnic Institute, Royal Polytechnic Institute, Bhawal Polytechnic Institute, and others joined the programme. Protesters first gathered in the morning in front of MIST Polytechnic near the Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) gate on the Joydebpur–Shimultali road. They later marched through Bhurulia Rail Gate and Shibbari intersection before converging at Chandana intersection.
The blockade caused severe disruption to commuters and drivers along the Dhaka–Mymensingh and Joydebpur-Shibbari highways.
They demanded legal action against those who, according to them, are making baseless demands and conspiring against technical education and diploma engineers in an attempt to destabilise the country.
Sylhet
Students of Sylhet Polytechnic Institute blocked roads and staged demonstrations today, protesting the three-point demand put forward by degree engineers.
The protest began in the afternoon at Chowhatta in Sylhet city, where students occupied the road, halting vehicular movement. The blockade was lifted around 3:30pm.
The blockade caused severe traffic congestion on adjacent roads.
The demonstration, organised under the banner Karigori Chhatro Andolon, Sylhet Polytechnic Institute, featured slogans against students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and other university engineering departments. Polytechnic students from different districts of Sylhet division joined the protest.
Speaking at the protest, students alleged that "a conspiracy is underway to destroy the technical education system and monopolise the engineering job sector. The three-point demand of degree engineers is illogical and risks undermining the professional rights of diploma engineers in Sylhet."
They urged the government to ensure student safety and adopt fair, logical policies to resolve the professional disputes in the engineering sector. Protesters further demanded strict measures against future threats and "irrational demands" while calling for permanent and effective solutions to safeguard the interests of the engineering profession.
Kushtia
Students of Kushtia Polytechnic Institute brought out a procession around 11am to press home their demands
They later blocked the Patherasta Mor area, causing long tailbacks on both sides of the road. The blockade was lifted around 3pm.
The student protesters alleged that recruiting BSc engineers in the 10th grade government jobs would shrink their job opportunities.
"The conspiracy to approve BSc engineers' demands is almost complete. That's why we had to take to the streets. We will not leave until our demands are met," a protester said.
The protesters also warned of launching tougher programmes if their demands are ignored.
Dinajpur
Students of technical institutions staged a blockade of both roads and railways in Dinajpur today morning.
The protest began around 9:30am when students blocked the railway track at Phulbari bus stand area. Later, they placed bamboo across the Dinajpur-Gobindaganj highway, halting road traffic.
The blockade was lifted in the afternoon.
As a result of the railway blockade, two trains bound for Dhaka and Rajshahi from Panchagarh were stranded, leaving around 2,000 passengers in distress. The road blockade also caused several hundred vehicles to be stuck on both sides, leading to severe traffic congestion in the town.
Earlier in the morning, students had gathered at Phulbari bus stand with placards, banners, and festoons highlighting their seven-point demand. They chanted slogans and delivered speeches over loudspeakers to press for their demands.
Officials from the district administration and police arrived at the scene around 11am. As of 12pm, the blockade programme was still underway.
Chapainawabganj
Students under the banner of 'Karigori Chhatra Andolon Bangladesh' staged demonstrations in Chapainawabganj this morning, blocking the Chapainawabganj-Sonamasjid land port highway for an hour to press home their demands.
The protest began around 11:30am in front of Chapainawabganj Polytechnic Institute, where hundreds of students chanted slogans and staged a sit-in. The blockade was lifted in the afternoon.
The blockade caused severe traffic congestion on both sides of the highway, halting movement of passenger vehicles as well as trucks carrying imported goods to and from the land port.
Protesters alleged that an "unfair committee" was recently formed to address professional issues in the engineering sector, undermining the interests of diploma engineers. They also opposed what they called "irrational demands" from Bsc engineers, urging the government to reject them.
The three-point demand of BSc engineers includes:
1. Only candidates with a minimum BSc in Engineering degree should be eligible for Assistant Engineer (Grade-9) posts. No new posts should be created under quotas or other titles to allow promotion.
2. Recruitment exams for the post of Sub-Assistant Engineer (Grade-10) posts should be open only to diploma engineers and BSc graduates in the same discipline.
3. Legal measures must ensure that no one without a BSc in Engineering degree may use the title of engineer. Non-accredited BSc courses must also be brought under Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB)-The Board of Accreditation for Engineering and Education (BAETE) accreditation without delay.
