All exams for undergraduate levels and terms at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) have been postponed until 18 September, following ongoing protests by engineering students.
The announcement was made in an urgent notice signed by BUET Registrar, Professor Dr. NM Golam Zakaria, on Wednesday.
The notice stated, “In light of the current situation, all undergraduate exams scheduled from Saturday to 18 September have been postponed. Further decisions regarding the exams will be made through discussions in the Academic Council.”
Engineering students across the country have been protesting to demand the right for diploma engineers to use the title “Engineer” before their names, along with several other demands. BSc engineers are calling for increased opportunities for recruitment in various engineering positions, while diploma engineers are advocating for changes in their job placement policies.
The students also staged a “complete shutdown” at all engineering universities across the country on Thursday, a move led by the General Secretary of the Engineer’s Rights Movement, Sakibul Haque Lipu.
Earlier on Wednesday, hundreds of BUET students staged a sit-in at Shahbagh and attempted to march towards Jamuna. However, they were met with resistance from the police, leading to clashes between the two sides. Police used batons, sound grenades, tear gas, and water cannons to disperse the protesters, injuring at least 60 students. Several police officers were also reported injured during the confrontation. Following the clash, students announced their intention to continue their sit-in protests at Shahbagh.
Later that evening, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Sajjad Ali visited the protesting students at Shahbagh and expressed his regret over the incidents. He said, “You are like my children, and your suffering pains me as well. I sincerely apologize for the events that took place in front of the Hotel InterContinental.”