Students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) have raised strong objections against the current quota system and irregular promotions in engineering sector recruitment.
At a protest held Tuesday near the Dr MA Rashid Administrative Building, they demanded that all appointments to 9th-grade engineering positions, including assistant engineer or equivalent roles, must require a BSc degree and be based solely on competitive examination results, eliminating quota-based appointments or equivalent positions created under other names.
The demonstrators, who staged a three-hour sit-in, highlighted several systemic issues plaguing the engineering sector, pointing out how excessive irregular promotions are shrinking entry-level opportunities for BSc engineers, with diploma-holding sub-assistant engineers being promoted to assistant engineer positions through internal quota systems that bypass standard procedures.
It is worth noting that this protest continues a movement that began in 2013.
The students revealed instances where recruitment notices were canceled after being issued just to accommodate such irregular promotions. While rules specify that promotions should not exceed 33% of vacancies, many institutions are flouting this by promoting 40% to 100% of their staff, severely limiting genuine entry-level positions for fresh graduates.
The protesters emphasised that this situation directly violates constitutional guarantees of equal opportunity. They also drew attention to the disparity in Bangladesh’s National Qualification Framework (BNQF), where diploma qualifications are classified as Level 6 while BSc degrees are Level 7.
This creates the absurd situation where those with lower qualifications can apply for positions that exclude better-qualified BSc graduates – a practice not seen in neighbouring countries.
The students presented three key demands to address these issues. First, they insist that all appointments to 9th-grade engineering positions must require candidates to both hold a BSc degree and pass competitive examinations, with no exceptions made through quota systems or equivalent positions.
Second, they demand that 10th-grade technical positions (sub-assistant engineer or equivalent) should be open to both diploma and BSc holders through examination. Third, they call for legislation to restrict use of the “Engineer” title exclusively to those holding BSc Engineering degrees.
The students noted that, while diploma holders had previously mobilised successfully to secure their demands, the current system has become unbalanced and needs reform to ensure fair opportunities for all qualified candidates.
Following the sit-in, the students organised a march from the Registrar’s Building to Palashi Crossing and, finally, to BUET Shaheed Minar. Their procession featured slogans on placards including: “July claimed a thousand lives – will quotas be revived?”, “End injustice in the name of quotas”, and “Engineering posts for engineers only”.
The protest reflects growing concerns among engineering graduates about shrinking career opportunities and what they see as systemic biases in public sector recruitment processes.
The students have vowed to continue their movement until their demands for a fair, transparent, and merit-based recruitment system are met.