Students of polytechnic institutes yesterday announced to launch a long march to Dhaka if the government fails to respond to their six-point demand within 48 hours.

The announcement came from a grand rally held in front of Dhaka Mohila Polytechnic Institute in the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area. Hundreds of students joined the demonstration, which began around noon.

Earlier in the day, students from various public and private polytechnic institutions gathered at the Dhaka Polytechnic Institute and brought out a procession around 11:00am. The procession marched to Agargaon and later joined the grand rally near the women's polytechnic institute.

The demonstrators said they have been protesting for over eight months, but the government has shown no initiative to address their concerns.

"We do not want to cause public suffering. But the government has forced us to come to the streets," said a student leader. "If there is no clear response within 48 hours, we will begin a long march towards Dhaka. And this time, it will not be symbolic," he added.

Their six-point demand includes removal of "controversial craft instructors" appointed after 2021, conversion of the diploma engineering programme into a full four-year course with six-month-long semesters, and ensuring that only diploma holders can apply for post of deputy assistant engineer (Grade 10) and equivalent positions.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court yesterday stayed a High Court verdict -- which the polytechnic students have opposed as part of their demands -- that had directed the government to promote craft instructors to the position of junior instructors.