Students from government and private polytechnic institutes marched in Dhaka on Friday (April 18) wearing white shrouds on their heads, demanding that the government meet their six-point charter of demands.
The protest began at around 2:15 PM from the gate of Latif Hall at Tejgaon Polytechnic Institute and ended at the institute’s south gate after marching through the main road of Saat Rasta.
Earlier, on Thursday, the students had planned a nationwide railway blockade to press for their demands. However, they postponed the programme following an invitation to a meeting at the Secretariat. After expressing dissatisfaction with the outcome of the meeting, they announced new protest plans, including torch processions and the symbolic shroud-wearing march.
On Wednesday, the students blocked Saat Rasta intersection in Tejgaon throughout the day and also demonstrated in front of polytechnic institutes across the country.
Their six-point demand includes cancellation of the court verdict that allowed promotion of junior instructors over craft instructors, change of the craft instructor job title, termination of those involved in the legal case, full cancellation of the 2021 craft instructor recruitment, and amendment of the recruitment rules.
They also demanded the cancellation of open-age admission for diploma engineering courses, implementation of a four-year curriculum, and gradual shift of academic activities to English medium.
The students called for legal action against government and autonomous bodies that are recruiting diploma engineers for lower positions despite having reserved quotas for 10th-grade level positions.
They also demanded that all top technical education management posts, such as director, assistant director, board chairman, deputy secretary, exam controller, and principals, be filled only by individuals with a technical education background. They want skilled teachers and lab assistants appointed to all vacant posts.
Further demands include the formation of a separate ministry for technical and higher education, a technical education reform commission, and the establishment of a technical university for higher education opportunities.
They also urged the government to allow students from polytechnics and monotechnics to enroll in the upcoming academic session in the four under-construction engineering colleges in Narail, Natore, Khagrachari, and Thakurgaon under the DUET curriculum through temporary campuses.
BDST: 1538 HRS, April 17, 2025
MSK
