Polytechnic students bring out 'Kafan Michhil', vow to continue protests until govt meets 6 demands

Protesting Dhaka Polytechnic Institute students wearing white shrouds brought out a mass procession in the city today (18 April) to press 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 symbolic "Kafan Michhil" started from Dhaka Polytechnic Institute Jame Mosque in the capital's Tejgaon area at around 2pm after the Jummah prayers.

The procession led to some disruption of vehicular movement on the streets in the Tejgaon area.

The procession moved from the mosque to the main road in Tejgaon, circled the Saat Rasta intersection, and returned to the main gate of the institute. After staying there for a while, the students went back inside the institute.

Throughout the procession, students chanted various slogans, including "From uncle to teacher, stop the family favour", "Unite, unite, Polytechnic unite", "Crush the dark hands of conspiracy", "Why the attack in Cumilla? Administration, answer us!"

Afterwards, student representative Saiful Islam told reporters, "We have yet to receive any assurance from the government. The movement will continue until our demands are met."

Their 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.

Meanwhile, similar processions were also brought out by polytechnic students in other areas of the country, including Rajshahi and Faridpur, our correspondents reported. 

Yesterday afternoon (18 April), the students announced to launch a stricter movement after a discussion with the government regarding their demands did not turn out "satisfactory".

After a meeting with Technical and Madrasah Education Division Additional Secretary Rehana Yasmin at the Secretariat, the students told reporters about their decision to carry out tougher protest programmes pressing forth their six demands.

"We didn't receive any official documents or see any concrete steps from the ministry. They have been stalling progress on every issue. Today's discussions were not fruitful," student representative Mashfiq Islam was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.

On Wednesday (16 April), the polytechnic students blocked roads and rail lines across the country as part of their movement to meet their six demands, which caused immense suffering to the commuters.

In the face of the movement, the principal of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman Khan, was removed from his post and was attached to the Directorate of Technical Education later that day.