Students of engineering universities, including Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), have given the government an ultimatum until 8pm Tuesday to meet their demands, warning of tougher action if their calls are ignored.
They blocked Shahbagh in the capital from 3:30pm, demanding action against a threat to kill Rokonuzzaman, a Buet student, and presenting three-point demands. The students reiterated that they have no plans to leave Shahbagh before the deadline.
Sakibul Haq Lipu, general secretary of the Engineering Rights Movement, told Bangla Tribune on Tuesday at 6:30pm: “There has been no assurance or discussion from the government’s side with us. We have given an ultimatum until 8pm. Therefore, we will remain at Shahbagh until 8pm.”
The protest, conducted under the banner of the “Blockade of Engineers” campaign, focuses on the following demands:
- All candidates seeking entry into the ninth grade in engineering, or positions such as assistant engineer or equivalent, must pass a recruitment examination and hold at least a BSc degree. Promotions through quotas are not allowed, and no promotion can be granted, even by creating equivalent positions under different titles.
- Recruitment examinations for technical 10th grade or sub-assistant engineer positions must be open to both diploma and BSc holders.
- Appropriate legal measures must be taken against those using the engineer title without a BSc degree. Additionally, non-accredited BSc engineering courses must be brought under IEB-BTEB accreditation following proper procedures.
Earlier, the student platform Engineers’ Rights Movement announced a boycott of classes and exams, citing the recruitment of diploma holders to the ninth grade and the marginalization of engineering university students. Students from Buet and other engineering universities joined the movement.