Diploma engineers on staged demonstrations and blocked major highways in Gazipur, pressing for a seven-point charter of demands, including implementation of provisions safeguarding their professional rights.

The protest, organised under the banner of Prokousholi Odhikar Andolon (Engineers’ Rights Movement), also voiced opposition to what they described as continued conspiracies and “unjust demands” aimed at destabilising the country.

Traffic on the Dhaka–Mymensingh, Dhaka–Tangail and Dhaka–Gazipur highways remained suspended for several hours, causing severe suffering to passengers and drivers.

Witnesses said the agitation began around 12 noon near the MIST Polytechnic Institute, beside the DUET gate on the Joydebpur–Shimul¬toli road. From there, the protesters marched through Bhurulia rail gate and Shibbari intersection before converging on Chandna Square, walking about six kilometres. 

Students from MIST Polytechnic Institute, Royal Polytechnic Institute, Bhawal Polytechnic Institute and several other colleges, as well as job-seeking youths from across Gazipur city, took part.

During the rally, participants alleged that “a section is conspiring against technical students and diploma engineers, creating mobs by cancelling the 10th grade and attempting to destabilise the country”. They demanded legal action against those responsible.

Speakers highlighted their seven-point demand, including:

Enforcing the 1978 ordinance issued by late president Ziaur Rahman to bar recruitment of anyone other than diploma engineers to the posts of sub-assistant engineer or equivalent.

Restructuring manpower in all organisations to ensure a 1:5 ratio between assistant and sub-assistant engineers.

Granting 30 per cent promotion from sub-assistant engineer to assistant engineer posts in recognition of diploma engineers’ contributions, as laid down by Ziaur Rahman.

Halting recruitment to “Sidor” posts or similar in institutions such as the Rural Electrification Board in violation of the 1994 circular issued by then prime minister Khaleda Zia, which recognised diploma engineers as sub-assistant engineers (10th grade).

Taking legal steps against certain BSc engineering students allegedly spreading “falsehoods and slander” about diploma engineers.

Maintaining the quality of diploma engineering education by fixing a 1:12 teacher–student ratio to address faculty shortages.

Implementing the six-point charter placed earlier by Karigori Chhatra Andolon, Bangladesh (Technical Students’ Movement).

The protesters warned that they would announce fresh programmes across the country if the government failed to take clear steps to protect their status and meet the demands. 

The movement will continue until our logical demands are fulfilled, they declared.