As it happened: Multiple injuries in police action on protesters marching towards CA's residence on Wednesday

Hasnat Abdullah, NCP's chief organiser for the southern region, wrote on Facebook, “I strongly condemn today’s police attack on BUET students. There is no justification for using force against the students’ rightful protest.”

Later, Md Abu Shadik, DUCSU VP nominee and former DU Islami Chhatra Shibir president, said, “We condemn the police attacks on the protesting engineering students. 

“Students have been holding protests for a long time regarding engineering and diploma-related problems. We urge a balanced solution to the issue through dialogue with the protesters.”

The government has formed an eight-member committee to review and make recommendations on the demands raised by engineering students, including BSc and diploma engineers, reports UNB.

Headed by Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, the members of the committee includes four government advisers, and representatives from professional engineering students.

The Cabinet Division issued a notification on Wednesday announcing the formation of the committee, which has been asked to submit its report to the government within one month.

Multiple protesters, and two police personnel, were injured in the clash that lasted around half an hour, our correspondent reports from the spot.

Sakibul Haque Lipu, general secretary of the Engineering Rights Movement, said at least 50 protesters were hurt in the police action. At least four other protesters said the same. 

Md Faruk, in-charge of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital police outpost, told Stream, "Four people were injured in the Shahbagh protests and took primarly medical treatment at DMCH."

Two police personnel were also injured in the clashes, according to UNB. 

Photo: Focus Bangla

Police baton-charged and fired sound grenades at protesting engineering students when they began marching towards the chief adviser's residence following their blockade at Shahbagh in the capital.

When students from BUET and other engineering universities attempted to move towards Jamuna after breaking through a police barricade at Shahbagh, law enforcers dispersed them by baton-charging the protesters. Police also fired several rounds of tear gas shells and sound grenades, our correspondent reports from the spot.

The protesters gathered at Shahbagh from 10:00am. 

The previous day, after blocking Shahbagh for hours, they announced a programme called "Long March to Dhaka" for Wednesday. 

Stream Photo

The protest stems from deep dissatisfaction with the country's current education and recruitment system. 

At the heart of the movement are grievances over inequality in recruitment between diploma holders and BSc engineers, misuse of the title "engineer," and death threats made against one of their fellow protesters. Students are demanding clear and firm action from the government to protect their qualifications and rights.

What are their demands?

Under the banner "Engineers' Blockade", students are protesting with three key demands, including a ban on the use of the title "engineer" by those who do not hold a BSc degree. The three demands are:

1. For entry into the 9th grade engineering posts (Assistant Engineer or equivalent), competitive exams must be mandatory for all candidates, and a BSc degree should be the minimum qualification. No promotion should be granted through quotas or by creating equivalent positions under different titles. Students allege that diploma holders are also being directly appointed to 9th grade government positions (Assistant Engineer or equivalent) and promoted through quotas, which reduces opportunities for BSc engineers and devalues their four years of rigorous academic training.

2. The recruitment exam for technical 10th grade posts (Sub-Assistant Engineer or equivalent) should be open to both BSc and diploma degree holders, and aims to increase job opportunities and reduce unemployment among BUET graduates. 

3. Legal action must be taken against anyone using the title 'engineer' without holding a BSc degree. In addition, all non-accredited BSc engineering programs must be brought under proper accreditation by IEB and BAETE. Students said that allowing diploma holders alone to use the 'engineer' title creates inequality with BSc degree holders, undermining their merit and hard work.

How long has the protest been going on?

The protest has been ongoing for about five months across BUET and other engineering universities. However, following a death threat made to one of their fellow engineers Roknuzzaman, who was involved in the movement in Rangpur, they have taken to the streets. 

President of the Engineers' Rights Movement Wali Ullah told the media that he spent the entire day at the Secretariat on Tuesday but could not meet any officials. 

"The government's long neglect has "broken the dam of their patience," prompting them to announce the "Long March to Dhaka." Wali Ullah said. 

Shakil Ahmed Iqbal, the movement's vice president, told the media that students have been protesting peacefully for five months. 
During this time, they have sent letters to over 100 government offices and held meetings with the Education Ministry and the Ministry of Public Administration but to no effect.
"A former BUET trainee engineer working at NESCO received death threats  on Monday in Rangpur," Shakil said.

"20–25 people in Rangpur threatened to kill engineer Rokon because he had submitted applications to various government offices on behalf of the movement," Shakil alleged.

The protesters are demanding the arrest and dismissal of those responsible for the threats. They also urged the government to issue an official notification meeting their three-point demands.

Students said that they will continue the protest until their demands are met and the individuals who threatened their fellow engineer are brought to justice.