The capital’s Satrastha intersection turned chaotic again on Wednesday as polytechnic students staged protests over a perceived deepening crisis in technical education and diminishing roles for engineers in the job market.
Students from government and private polytechnic institutes, technical schools and colleges (TSC) and other institutions under the Bangladesh Technical Education Board blocked the busy intersection to press their six-point demand.
The blockade caused severe traffic congestion in Satrastha and surrounding areas, leaving office-goers and commuters stranded. Many were seen walking to their destinations as vehicles inched forward.
The students alleged that an influential group is deliberately undermining technical education to weaken the polytechnic system and restrict access to the engineering profession.
They also accused authorities of discriminating against polytechnic graduates in employment and higher education opportunities.
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“A powerful syndicate has captured the technical education system. They are closing our paths. We will not tolerate this injustice anymore,” said one protester, adding that demonstrations would continue until their demands are met.
Tejgaon Industrial Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Aslam Hossain said the students occupied Satrastha around 10:30am, reiterating the same demands raised in their previous protests. “Police are closely monitoring the situation to maintain law and order,” he added.
The six demands are giving due recognition to technical education, ensuring equal opportunities for polytechnic graduates in the engineering profession, stopping recruitment barriers through syndicates, eliminating discrimination in higher education, extending government facilities to private polytechnic students, and integrating technical education as a key pillar of the national development policy.
At the time of filing this report, students were still demonstrating peacefully at the intersection, although vehicular movement remained suspended, bringing the area to a standstill.