Polytechnic stir suspended

Students of polytechnic Institutes have suspended their agitation for 15 days on being assured that their demands will be met.

The convener of the Bangladesh Technical Student Council, Zakir Hossain Sagar, made the announcement after a meeting of the leaders of various student bodies and government representatives at the Secretariat at around noon on Monday.

“We have given them 15 days. They said they will meet our demands within that time. So we have suspended our protests for 15 days,” he explained.

Sagar further said the government promised to increase scholarships for polytechnic students, ensure promotions and find a new definition for the term 'engineer'.

Polytechnic students had taken to violent protests in various parts of the country, including capital Dhaka, during the past four days to press for their demands.

Students and teachers of polytechnic institutions have been in a countrywide agitation for a hike in scholarship and training stipends as well as the correction of a gazette from 2008 so that the term engineer can also mean diploma engineer.

Polytechnic students in Rajshahi, Sirajganj, Pabna, Bogra and Potuakhali skipped their examinations on Monday to set up blockades and vandalise vehicles and clash with police.

After announcing the suspension on Monday, the student council convener said, “We will go back and sit our exams and no longer stay on the streets.”

He demanded the release of protesters detained during the past few days saying, “350 of our students have been arrested. We will sit for exams in three days. We want to take the tests with them.”

Housing and Public Works Secretary Khandaker Shawkat Hossain and Education Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury sat with leaders various organisations representing polytechnic students.

Another meeting at noon decided that those who pass out of the polytechnic institutes will be termed engineers, not supervisors.

The Education Secretary said, “Those who pass diploma engineering examinations will be called diploma engineers, not supervisors.”

Secretary Hossain said a diploma engineer will be considered as Deputy Assistant Engineer when they join a job.