Dhaka, Aug 27 (V7N) – Students of several engineering institutions, including Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), have blocked Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka for the second consecutive day, pressing for reforms in engineering recruitment and promotion rules.

As part of their previously announced “Long March to Dhaka” program, students took up positions on the main road in Shahbagh around 11 am on Wednesday, bringing traffic in Shahbagh and surrounding areas to a complete standstill.

The protesting students placed three major demands:

  1. Recruitment to the 9th grade (Assistant Engineer or equivalent posts) must require passing a recruitment exam and holding a minimum B.Sc in Engineering degree. They opposed promotions through quota or by creating equivalent posts under different names.

  2. The existing 100% quota for diploma engineers in 10th grade (technical) posts should be abolished. Instead, the minimum qualification should be Diploma in Engineering, while B.Sc. and M.Sc. degree holders should also be eligible to apply.

  3. Strict legal action should be taken against individuals who use the title “Engineer” without having a B.Sc. in Engineering degree.

On Tuesday, BUET students had first gathered at Shahbagh around 3 pm, later joined by several hundred students from private engineering universities. Their demonstration halted traffic in the busy intersection for more than four and a half hours, before they dispersed around 8 pm.

Wednesday’s blockade indicates that the agitation is likely to continue unless the authorities respond to their demands.

END/SMA/AJ