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Published : 23 Apr 2025, 01:12 AM
Polytechnic institute students have suspended their week-long nationwide protest after the education ministry formed a committee to devise a "roadmap for the implementation" of their six-point demand.
The announcement was made at a press conference held at Dhaka Polytechnic Institute around 9pm on Tuesday.
Student leaders, however, warned that they would resume the protest if the authorities delay implementation.
Earlier in the day, the education ministry's Technical and Madrasah Education Division formed an eight-strong panel, led by an additional secretary, to outline the action plan.
A representative from the protesters' platform, Karigori Chhatra Andolon or Technical Students Movement, has been included as an advisor.
The committee has been given three weeks to submit its report.
Students have been rallying behind these demands for years, but launched fresh demonstrations on Apr 17, enforcing nationwide road blockades and a “rail blockade” programme.
They have been continuing their protest for over a week.
On Monday, during a rally, they gave the government a 48-hour ultimatum to take visible steps on their demands and warned of a “long march” if ignored.
The committee was formed the next day.
Speaking at Tuesday evening’s press conference, the platform’s representative Jobayer Patwari said the protest was temporarily suspended "as a gesture of goodwill for the relevant authorities”.
“It is being made clear that if the six-point demands are not met or if there is any delay in forming the Technical Reform Commission, we will be forced to intensify the protest and take further action," he added.
