Speakers on Saturday called upon engineers to remain united to strengthen ongoing national development efforts.
They said this at a special Ramadan prayer and iftar ceremony at the IEB Auditorium organised by the The Engineers’ Institution, Bangladesh (IEB), in collaboration with its Dhaka Centre and ERC Dhaka.
Housing and Public Works minister Zakaria Taher spoke as the chief guest while State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shah Alam and State Minister for Housing and Public Works Ahmad Sohel Monjur delivered his speech as special guests.
The event brought together leading engineers, policymakers, and parliamentary representatives to mark the holy month of Ramadan and celebrate the contributions of the engineering community to national development.
The programme’s chief guest, Zakaria Taher, Minister for Housing and Public Works, praised the nation’s engineers for their tireless efforts in building the country’s infrastructure, from roads and bridges to major public facilities.
“Engineers have been instrumental in Bangladesh’s visible development. Their continuous dedication ensures a sustainable and progressive future for our nation."
State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Shah Alam highlighted concerns over administrative structures that often place non-technical personnel in technical positions, hampering development initiatives. “For effective governance and project execution, technical posts must be filled by qualified engineers. This is now more important than ever to fulfil the promises outlined in the Prime Minister’s election manifesto,” he emphasized.
Another special guest, State Minister for Housing and Public Works Ahmad Sohel Monjur acknowledged the challenges faced by professional associations and expressed optimism that the government, under the Prime Minister’s leadership, would address the issues confronting engineers.
Engineer Md. Ashraf Uddin (Bakul), MP of Narsingdi-5, pointed out that engineers have long faced neglect over the past 17 years. He urged proper recognition for those who have fought for the profession, as well as attention to engineers who lost jobs during difficult periods and have yet to be reinstated.
Shahrin Islam Tuhin, Convener of the Association of Engineers Bangladesh (AEB), expressed concern over the replacement of specialized technical engineers with non-technical officials in critical positions, slowing down project implementation and increasing technical complications. He urged the government to ensure merit-based appointments and proper placement of qualified engineers to enhance efficiency in development projects.
The ceremony was presided over by IEB President Engineer Mohammad Riazul Islam (Riju), who reiterated the institution’s commitment to safeguarding engineers’ professional rights and assured that further initiatives would be undertaken to communicate these issues with government authorities.
Welcoming guests, Engineer Muhammad Ahsanul Rasel, Acting Honorary Secretary of IEB, provided a brief history of the institution, noting its origins during the British colonial period and its post-independence transformation into the Engineers’ Institution, Bangladesh. He also highlighted the role of the Engineering Staff College, Bangladesh (ESCB), established in 2004 in Munshiganj, in enhancing the professional skills of engineers nationwide.