Polytechnic students have been demonstrating for days to press home their demand for reforms in the technical education system and better career prospects. Their protests, organised under the banner of Karigari Chhatra Andolon Bangladesh (Technical Students’ Movement of Bangladesh), are centred around a six-point charter of demands that reflect longstanding systemic issues.
First, students are opposing a High Court verdict that allows the promotion of craft instructors to junior instructor positions, arguing that this undermines merit-based hiring and disadvantages diploma holders. They are also demanding the cancellation of the 2021 recruitment rules under the Directorate of Technical Education and accountability for those involved in making these decisions.
Second, they are calling for the preservation of the four-year Diploma in Engineering and Monotechnology programmes. They want a modernised and standardised syllabus and are concerned that shortening or altering the curriculum would dilute its value and harm their qualifications.
Third, the students want certain technical job positions, such as Deputy Assistant Engineer (10th grade), to be reserved exclusively for four-year diploma graduates. They believe non-technical or less-qualified candidates are occupying roles meant for technically trained individuals, further shrinking already limited job opportunities.
Fourth, they are demanding changes in recruitment for technical education institutes, pushing for technically educated graduates to be prioritised for teaching and lab assistant positions at polytechnic institutes and Technical Schools and Colleges (TSCs). The current rules, they argue, unfairly benefit less-qualified candidates.
Fifth, the students are seeking the creation of a dedicated university for diploma graduates. They demand 100% seat reservations for diploma holders in the proposed engineering colleges in Naogaon, Thakurgaon, Narail, and Khagrachhari, which they see as a step towards equal access to higher education.
Sixth, following an alleged attack on protesting students in Cumilla, they are demanding proper medical treatment for those injured and a fair investigation into the incident. Frustration is growing over what they view as the interim government’s inadequate response, despite previous discussions with education ministry officials.
These demands are rooted in broader challenges. Bangladesh’s job market is under pressure, with many technically trained youths facing unemployment or underemployment. Students feel technical education is neglected compared to general education, suffering from outdated curricula, poor facilities, and a lack of alignment with industry needs. Political interference, campus violence, and a lack of institutional support have also contributed to their disillusionment. Many see this movement as part of a larger struggle for equity, drawing inspiration from the 2024 quota reform protests that helped bring down the previous government.
Today, they are holding rallies in front of every polytechnic institute across the country, including in Dhaka, to press home their demands. On 19 April 2025, students intensified their movement by covering polytechnic institute gates with red cloth—a symbol of resistance. They formed human chains and organised torch processions, road blockades, and rail disruptions across major cities including Dhaka, Tejgaon, and Mirpur. Their message is clear: action must be taken.