The protest, held around noon in front of the Women’s Polytechnic Institute at Agargaon’s new road, drew a large number of diploma engineering students from various institutions under the Bangladesh Technical Education Board.
Students under the banner of Technical Student Movement staged a massive rally in Dhaka on Sunday, warning of a ‘Long March to Dhaka’ if their six-point demands are not met within 48 hours.
Chanting slogans like “Ami ke? Tumi ke? Diploma Engineer!”, “Desh gorar hatiyar, Diploma Engineer,” and “Ek hou, ek hou, Polytechnic ek hou,” the students demanded equal rights, professional recognition, and systemic reforms in the technical education sector.
Carrying placards and banners, the demonstrators expressed frustration over long-standing discrimination against diploma engineers. They urged the authorities to take immediate action to address their demands, which include upgrading the curriculum, ensuring job placements, and eliminating the disparity between diploma and graduate engineers.
“If our demands are not fulfilled within the next 48 hours, we will begin a nationwide ‘Long March to Dhaka,’” warned the leaders of the movement during the rally.
The students reiterated that their movement is peaceful but determined, as they consider themselves crucial contributors to the nation’s development. The protest reflects growing discontent among the country’s technical education students, calling for reform as well as recognition.
LND/BG
