Students from various polytechnic institutions have accused BSc engineers of attempting to create unstable conditions in the country by making unreasonable demands.
The allegation was made during a press conference in front of the Dhaka Polytechnic Institute on Thursday, organised in protest against the three-point demands of BSc engineers.
At the press conference, Mashfiq Islam, chief divisional coordinator of the Technical Students’ Movement, stated: “The state has already granted us the status of sub-assistant engineer. For BSc engineers to reject this settled matter through protests is unconstitutional.”
He warned that polytechnic students would strongly oppose any attempts to destabilise the state through unlawful activities.
On Wednesday, BUET stuidents had made three key demands: mandatory examinations for entry into 9th-grade engineering positions, requiring a BSc in Engineering degree; keeping 10th-grade technical positions open to both diploma and BSc Engineering holders through equal examination opportunities; and enacting a law to prohibit use of the “Engineer” title without a BSc in Engineering degree
Zubayer Patwary, central representative of the Technical Students’ Movement, countered: “Diploma engineers contribute to the nation’s economy through both domestic work and overseas remittances. There’s no evidence of their incompetence.”
He asserted that even if BSc engineers go on strike, diploma engineers remain fully capable of keeping the country running.
The protest highlights growing tensions between technical diploma holders and graduate engineers over professional recognition and employment opportunities in Bangladesh’s engineering sector. Polytechnic students maintain that the current system fairly recognises their qualifications and experience, while BSc engineers continue pushing for exclusive privileges.