Polytechnic students protest across Bangladesh
Students of polytechnic institutes staged protests in multiple cities across the country today, blocking key highways and rail lines.
Their demands include the transfer of controversial instructors recruited after 2021, enforcing a six-month duration for each academic semester, ensuring the full four-year education cycle for diploma engineering, and ensuring that the post of deputy assistant engineer and other equivalent posts are exclusively reserved for diploma engineers.
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Dhaka
Students of different polytechnic institutes blocked a road in Tejgaon's Satrasta area this morning in the capital.
More than 1,000 students blocked the road, halting traffic movement to press for their demands, said Gazi Shamimur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Tejgaon Industrial Police Station.
Earlier in the morning, the students gathered in front of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute and later marched towards the road, witnesses said.
Chattogram
In Chattogram, students from various polytechnic institutions took to the streets around 12:00pm, blocking the road at the busy Sholoshahar-2 Gate area. Holding banners and placards, they halted traffic between GEC and Muradpur in both directions. A sit-in was also held by students of Chittagong Government Polytechnic Institute.
CMP Traffic North Division Deputy Commissioner (DC) Nesar Uddin Ahmed said, "It cannot be said that traffic has been completely halted; we are sending the traffic through diversions in different points. Flows on flyover increased due to blockade. Discussions are ongoing with the agitating students. The army and police are present on the scene."
Khulna
Rail communication to and from Khulna was suspended for three hours after students from four local polytechnic institutes blocked train movement at Boikali Junction around 9:15am.
The Rupsha Express was stopped shortly after departing from Khulna Railway Station.
As a result of the protest, several other trains — including the Chitra, Rocket, and Mahananda Express — were held up at Khulna Station.
Khulna Railway Station Master Zakir Hossain confirmed that train operations resumed at 12:45pm after students lifted the blockade. OC Md Rofiqul Islam of Khalishpur Police Station said, "We were able to persuade the students to end the blockade around noon. Rail operations have since resumed as usual."
Cumilla
In Cumilla, students from both government and private polytechnic institutes began blocking the Kotbari Bishwaroad area from morning, disrupting traffic on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway.
Cumilla Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Saiful Malik said, "Our traffic police are working on the ground. The road will be cleared once the students leave." Assistant Commissioner Syed Refayed Abid added, "We suggested that a delegation from among them go to the District Commissioner's office to submit their demands to the Education Adviser, but they refused."
When contacted, students said, "We have raised these demands several times before, but no one listened. Now we've blocked the road. If anyone wants to talk about our demands, they must come to us. We won't go to the Secretariat."
A team of army personnel intervened at the protest site around 2:00pm.
Narsingdi
In Narsingdi, students of the local polytechnic institute blocked the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in front of the Police Line area, beginning their demonstration at 10:30am. The protest continued for two hours, causing traffic congestion in both directions.
After about two hours, the protest was suspended at the request of Narsingdi Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rashed Hossain Chowdhury.
A protesting student, Ahanaf Rafi, said, "Many institutions are recruiting diploma engineers in lower positions. Legal action must be taken against such practices, and the six-point demand must be implemented. Otherwise, we will be compelled to take stricter action."
Sylhet
Students of Sylhet Polytechnic Institute blocked the Sylhet-Dhaka highway at Chandipul from around 10:30am, causing a traffic standstill at the city's entrance until 2:30pm.
They staged a sit-in with banners demanding implementation of their six-point charter and protesting a 2021 High Court verdict that promoted craft instructors to the post of junior instructors.
Rajshahi
Students from various technical institutes in Rajshahi staged demonstrations for the second consecutive day today, blocking both the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway and the adjacent railway tracks.
The protest began around 11:30am with a procession that started from the Railgate intersection of the city. Demonstrators later gathered at Vadra Mor, bringing both road and rail communication to a standstill.
The blockade continued until 3:30pm.
Patuakhali
Students of Patuakhali Polytechnic Institute held a demonstration, blocking the Kuakata-Barishal highway.
Around 11:30am, students began a protest procession from the Jhautala area, marching through several roads in the town before staging a sit-in at the district's main intersection.
They blocked the highway from 11:50am to 12:20pm, causing a brief suspension of traffic movement.
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