Polytechnic students not satisfied by talks, more protests to be announced

Students from polytechnic institutes pushing for a six-point list of demands say they are unsatisfied after an extended meeting with officials from the Ministry of Education.

The delegation from the protesters said they were not satisfied by the meeting on Thursday and will now opt for stricter programmes.

Mashfiq Islam, a member of the delegation, said: “We sat with the additional secretary, but saw no visible steps taken by the ministry. We are not satisfied by the meeting.”

“We will now move towards stricter programmes. Our movement to push for our demands will continue. We will discuss with the others and announce programmes.”

The meeting between the delegation and education ministry officials continued from the morning into the afternoon.

Rehena Yasmin, additional secretary of the Ministry of Education’s Technical and Madrasa Education’s Technical Section, sat for talks with the protesters.

Mushfiq, a leader in the protest platform Karigari Chhatra Andolon, said: “The honourable education advisor was not present at the meeting. The honourable secretary was also outside Dhaka. Although the additional secretary spoke with us, she was not able to immediately make many decisions.”

“Our brothers were attacked in Cumilla. We have been victims of violence in many locations. We did not receive any clear decisions on these matters. That is why the meeting was not fruitful. Maybe it would have been better if the honourable advisor was present.”

On Wednesday, the students had blocked roads in key areas of the capital including Tejgaon, Mohammadpur, and Mirpur, as part of their protest.

Their simultaneous occupation of busy roadways led to paralysing traffic congestion across Dhaka, bringing distress to commuters.

When it began to rain later in the day, some students were seen playing football on the roads, but they remained in place until evening when the blockade was finally lifted.

The students of government and private polytechnic institutions said that evening they would block rail tracks across the country on Thursday to further their cause.

But they paused their protest after a meeting was organised on Thursday following the intervention of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and at the invitation of Education Advisor Prof Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar.

Their six-point list of demands are:

Cancellation of the High Court verdict promoting craft instructors to junior instructor posts, along with a change in the title of craft instructor, permanent dismissal of all involved in the case, and immediate annulment of the 2021 recruitment rules. Protesters also demanded a fair investigation and action against those responsible.

Continuation of the four-year Diploma Engineering course, and the formulation of a modern, standardised syllabus and curriculum.

Exclusive eligibility for the post of Deputy Assistant Engineer and equivalent (10th grade) for students who have completed a four-year Diploma in Engineering or Monotechnology (Surveying). Private diploma graduates should receive a minimum basic salary of Tk 16,000.

Enforcement of the Technical Education Reform Committee's report outlining the appointment of technically educated personnel in positions such as directors, deputy directors, principals, and others within the technical sector.

Revision of all controversial recruitment rules under the Directorate of Technical Education and publication of recruitment notices to fill vacant posts with technically educated teachers and lab assistants in polytechnic institutes and Technical Schools and Colleges (TSCs).

Publication of a gazette to establish a university for the higher education of Diploma in Engineering and Monotechnology graduates, and reservation of 100 percent of seats for them in the proposed four engineering colleges in Naogaon, Thakurgaon, Narail, and Khagrachhari.

The meeting between the delegation and education ministry officials continued from the morning into the afternoon.

Rehena Yasmin, additional secretary of the Ministry of Education’s Technical and Madrasa Education’s Technical Section, sat for talks with the protesters.

Mushfiq, a leader in the protest platform Karigari Chhatra Andolon, said: “The honourable education advisor was not present at the meeting. The honourable secretary was also outside Dhaka. Although the additional secretary spoke with us, she was not able to immediately make many decisions.”

“Our brothers were attacked in Cumilla. We have been victims of violence in many locations. We did not receive any clear decisions on these matters. That is why the meeting was not fruitful. Maybe it would have been better if the honourable advisor was present.”