Polytechnic students have temporarily relaxed their nationwide rail blockade program after a scheduled meeting with Education Adviser Prof. Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, with final decisions to follow based on the outcome of the dialogue.
Following days of intense demonstrations, polytechnic students demanding implementation of a six-point charter have agreed to ease their planned rail blockade set for Thursday. The decision came after student leaders confirmed a meeting with Education Adviser Prof. Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar on Thursday noon.
On Wednesday evening, at the Tejgaon Satrasta intersection in Dhaka, Jubayer Patwari—a representative of the Technical Student Movement—announced the national rail and road blockade in protest of the government’s inaction. Students later vacated the roads after occupying them for nearly eight hours.
“We had a meeting with the Director General of the Directorate of Technical Education Shoaib Ahmad Khan and Dhaka Polytechnic Principal Md. Mostafizur Rahman, among others,” said Jubayer. “However, they refused to accept our demands in writing, so we cannot consider the meeting fruitful.”
In response to both the unresolved issues and an alleged attack on Comilla Polytechnic students, demonstrators announced simultaneous rail and road blockade programs across the country.
The students have long been voicing grievances regarding the standard and recognition of technical education, demanding equal rights and opportunities compared to their general education counterparts.
Thursday’s meeting with the education adviser is expected to determine the future course of action for the students, who insist that unless written assurances are given, their protests will intensify.
LND/BG
