Technical students to stage nationwide protest Wednesday

The Technical Students’ Movement Bangladesh has announced a nationwide protest at all polytechnic institutes on Wednesday, September 17. Students will hold demonstrations, rallies, and sit-ins at key locations across districts to voice their demands.

At a press conference held on Tuesday at Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, the organization’s president Md. Mashfiq Islam detailed the protest plans. He criticized the recent three-point demands raised by the Engineering Rights Movement, calling them harmful to diploma engineers.

“Diploma engineers have a proud history spanning nearly 150 years and have contributed significantly to various sectors of the country. Yet, these demands threaten their rights and appear aimed at disrupting upcoming elections and government reforms,” Mashfiq Islam said.

The press conference also highlighted promotion issues. Though official documents indicate a 33% promotion rate from grade 10 to 9 for diploma engineers, the real rate is reportedly just 15-17%. As a result, many are unable to reach the position of assistant engineer even late in their careers.

Mashfiq Islam accused the Engineering Rights Movement of spreading false information and obstructing diploma engineers from using their official titles, actions he called illegal and against national law.

He further criticized the government-formed committees for their disproportionate representation, favoring BSc engineers over diploma engineers. Despite promises of equal representation, the BSc engineers dominate committee seats, many of whom are non-students.

“The committee’s sole purpose appears to be implementing the demands of BSc engineers, which diploma engineers will oppose,” he added.

The Technical Students’ Movement also urged the government to implement their six-point demands promptly. These include revising recruitment rules for craft instructors, establishing a Technical Education Reform Commission, and addressing internal sector problems.