Students from various polytechnic institutes staged a blockade at Dhaka’s busy Satrasta intersection on Wednesday morning, pressing a six-point demand, including improved lab facilities and regulation of additional fees at private institutions.
In a show of protest, polytechnic students gathered at the capital’s Satrasta area, halting traffic and chanting slogans to draw attention to their long-standing grievances. The demonstrators called on the authorities to fulfill their six-point demand without delay, warning of intensified movement if their voices continue to be ignored.
Key among their demands are the improvement of laboratory facilities in private polytechnic institutes and regulation of excessive tuition and other unofficial fees. They also urged the government to allocate funds for students’ industrial attachment programs.
According to a recent memorandum submitted to the Chairman of the Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB), students highlighted the lack of sufficient lab equipment in many private institutions, which they say hampers their ability to acquire necessary technical skills. The students further demanded that private institutions failing to meet minimum lab standards be shut down.
“We are not against education, we are fighting for the right to quality education,” a student protester told reporters on the scene. “If our demands are not met, we will escalate our protest in the coming days.”
The protest created significant traffic disruption in the area, with law enforcement deployed to maintain order and negotiate with the demonstrators. As of noon, the students remained firm in their blockade, awaiting a formal response from the authorities.
LND/BG
