Students from polytechnic institutes across Bangladesh have issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the government, demanding swift action on a six-point charter they have been protesting for over the past week.
The warning was delivered on Sunday by Mizanur Rahman, central coordinator of the Polytechnic Students' Movement, during a district-based gathering held outside the Women’s Polytechnic Institute in Agargaon, Dhaka.
“If our demands are not met within the next 48 hours, we will launch a 'Long March to Dhaka' involving students from all polytechnic institutions across the country,” Rahman said, addressing the rally at around 12:50 pm.
Sunday’s demonstration began around noon and followed a series of escalating student-led actions.
On Saturday, protesters staged a 'Rise in Red' demonstration, while a symbolic procession was held the previous day with students donning white shrouds tied around their heads.
Earlier in the week, on April 16, students from both public and private polytechnic institutions blocked Dhaka's busy Satrasta intersection from 10am to 6pm.
A railway blockade was also announced for Thursday, but the program was suspended after the government invited representatives for dialogue at the Secretariat.
The students are pressing for the implementation of six specific demands, though the details were not disclosed during the latest rally.
The six demands at a glance:
Cancellation of Instructor Promotions: Students are calling for the revocation of a 30% promotion quota allowing craft instructors to be promoted to junior instructor posts. They also demand that the High Court verdict validating these promotions be overturned, and that those involved in alleged irregular appointments in 2021 be dismissed.
Admission Reform and English Curriculum: Protesters want to abolish the open-age admission system for Diploma in Engineering programs. They are urging the government to introduce a four-year standard curriculum aligned with international models and gradually implement English as the medium of instruction.
Protection of Job Grades: Legal action is being demanded against government and semi-autonomous organisations allegedly appointing diploma engineers to positions lower than their qualifications, in violation of established job grade designations.
Technical Manpower in Leadership Roles: Students want a legal framework to ensure that leadership and administrative roles in technical education — such as directors, principals, board chairs, and exam controllers — are filled by individuals with technical education backgrounds.
Creation of a Technical Education Ministry: The students are pushing for an independent Ministry of Technical and Higher Education along with the formation of a Technical Education Reform Commission to modernise and oversee the sector.
Establishment of Technical Universities: A demand has been made for a high-quality technical university to ensure higher education opportunities for graduates of polytechnic and monotechnic institutes. Additionally, the protesters want full admission quotas for such graduates in the four upcoming engineering colleges in Narail, Natore, Khagrachari, and Thakurgaon — with temporary campuses launched under DUET in the interim.
The student-led movement marks a significant escalation in frustration over long-standing grievances in the country’s technical education system.
No official response to Saturday’s demonstrations had been issued by the Ministry of Education at the time of filing this report.
BDST: 1421 HRS, APR 20, 2025
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