Technical students warn of tougher movement if demands not met
Protesting technical students have warned to go for a tougher movement if their demands are not met.
Md Mashfiq Islam, president of the Karigari Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh, issued the warning at a press conference after lifting their blockade at Dhaka's Satrasta intersection on Wednesday afternoon, September 17.
Today, students from all polytechnic institutes observed sit-in, demonstration and besiege programmes at key points in respective districts across the country and will hold 'Kaktarua Dohon' (burning effigy) programme on Thursday, September 18, Mashfiq said.
About quota for the diploma engineers, he said the diploma engineers are not mentioned in the ministry’s definition of quota. But the BSc engineers spread falsehood.
At that time, Karigari Chhatra Andolan’s member secretary, Habibur Rahman Habib, alleged that some BSc degree holders under the banner of engineers’ movement are creating mob in the name of irrational three-point demand and spread falsehood on social media, even they make life threat to them.
Earlier this morning, technical students put a blockade at Satrasta in the capital for around three hours to press home their four-point demand, creating severe traffic jam in the city.
The demands are as follow:
Maximum punishment for individuals who publicly threatened to “shoot and slaughter” diploma engineers during recent rallies, a reference to inflammatory remarks made against the Technical Students’ Movement.
Immediate halt to all state-backed initiatives supporting the “unreasonable three-point demands” of BSc engineering students, which the technical students argue further entrench discrimination against diploma holders.
Full implementation of the “logical six-point demands” put forward by the Technical Students’ Movement of Bangladesh, including curriculum reform, job quota adjustments, and recognition of technical qualifications in public recruitment.
Introduction of a unified “one-channel” engineering education system, eliminating the artificial hierarchy between university and technical institute graduates and ensuring equal professional rights.
Earlier, diploma engineers in Gazipur blocked two highways – Dhaka-Mymensingh, and Dhaka-Tangail – for around two hours from 1:00pm to 3:00pm today against the ‘continued conspiracy’ on the deputy assistant engineer post.
They legal action must be taken against those who are continuously conspiring against the technical education and diploma engineers, and trying to destibilise the country with some illogical demands.
KR/MSU
