Polytechnic students announce nationwide rally tomorrow
Students at Dhaka Polytechnic Institute covered the institution's nameplate with a red cloth during today's protest
Polytechnic students have announced a nationwide rally tomorrow (20 April) to press home their six-point charter of demands, which includes the cancellation of a 30% promotion quota for craft instructors to the post of junior instructor.
The decision was made following a human chain programme, titled "Rise in Red", today (19 April) in front of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute in the capital's Tejgaon.
The protest was organised to express solidarity with the ongoing demonstrations, voice their dissent over the treatment of diploma engineers and realise their six demands.
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During the programme, the Dhaka Polytechnic students also covered the institution's nameplate with a red cloth, reports UNB.
At the event, Zobayer Patwary, a representative of the Polytechnic Students' Movement, condemned the recent attack on students in Cumilla and called for a fair investigation and proper medical care for the injured.
Students gathered with placards, chanting slogans like "Rokte Agun Legechhe", "Desh Goraar Hathiyar, Gorje Otho Arekbar", and "Cumillay Hamla Keno, Jobab Chai".
This protest is part of a broader movement that has seen polytechnic students staging demonstrations for the past four days across Dhaka and other parts of the country.
Their other demands include cancellation of the "controversial appointment" of craft instructors in 2021; abolishment of open-age admission in the Diploma in Engineering course; legal requirement to reserve positions in the 10th grade (equivalent to sub-assistant engineer) for diploma engineers; and prohibition of appointments of those without technical educational backgrounds.
The students also want a separate "Ministry of Technical and Higher Education", the formation of a "Technical Education Reform Commission", and the establishment of a high-quality technical university.
Yesterday (18 April), students held protest marches wearing burial shrouds around the country, while on Thursday (17 April), they held torch processions.
After a meeting with education ministry officials that failed to find a solution, students vowed to continue their movement until their demands are met.
On Wednesday (17 April), polytechnic students blocked roads in different areas of the capital, including Tejgaon, Mohammadpur, and Mirpur, as part of their protest.
