Polytechnic students to stage mass procession wearing shrouds today

Polytechnic students are set to hold a mass rally on Friday afternoon, wearing shrouds on their heads in a symbolic protest to push for their six-point charter of demands.

The Technical Students' Movement has issued a call through Facebook messages and press releases, urging students from government and private polytechnic institutes and TSCs to join their movement to press for six demands.

Jubayer Patwary, the Chief Executive Member of the Technical Students' Movement Bangladesh, said, "As there was no satisfactory response or decision after the meeting regarding our demands, a new program has been announced. On Friday (April 18), students from all polytechnic institutes across the country will organize a mass rally wearing white shrouds on their heads, similar to the '87 Shroud Movement,’ right after the Jumma prayer."

"We no longer believe in assurances, we believe in implementation. We want action, not promises," he added.

Earlier, on Wednesday evening (April 16), after announcing a nationwide railway blockade program, the protest was softened due to the intervention of the Chief Adviser and the call from the Education Adviser. On Thursday (April 17) noon, an 18-member delegation of the Technical Students' Movement went to the Secretariat for a meeting with the Education Adviser. However, in the absence of both the Education Adviser and the Secretary, the students met Rehana Yasmin, Additional Secretary (Technical Division) of the Technical and Madrasa Education Department, at 12.00 pm on Thursday.

After the meeting, Jubayer Patwary told the media, "We were directly deceived. The Additional Secretary who met with us today herself didn’t know that the Education Adviser was supposed to be present. They wasted time with meaningless discussions. We don’t want this to drag on for too long. We want a quick solution. Therefore, we will continue our movement while trying to minimize public suffering as much as possible."

The protesting students have made the following six demands:

1. Cancellation of the High Court verdict promoting craft instructors to junior instructor posts, along with a change in the title of craft instructor, permanent dismissal of all individuals involved in the case, and immediate annulment of the 2021 recruitment rules. Protesters also demand a fair investigation and appropriate action against those responsible.

2. Continuation of the four-year Diploma Engineering course and the formulation of a modern, standardised syllabus and curriculum.

3. Exclusive eligibility for the post of Deputy Assistant Engineer and equivalent (10th grade) positions for students who have completed a four-year Diploma in Engineering or Monotechnology (Surveying). Private diploma graduates should receive a minimum basic salary of Tk 16,000.

4. Enforcement of the Technical Education Reform Committee's report that outlines the appointment of technically educated personnel to key positions such as directors, deputy directors, principals, and others within the technical sector.

5. Revision of all controversial recruitment rules under the Directorate of Technical Education, and the publication of recruitment notices to fill vacant posts with technically educated teachers and lab assistants in polytechnic institutes and Technical School and Colleges (TSCs).

6. Publication of a gazette to establish a university for higher education of Diploma in Engineering and Monotechnology graduates, with 100 percent of seats reserved for them in the proposed engineering colleges in Naogaon, Thakurgaon, Narail, and Khagrachhari.