Polytechnic students across the country organised on Saturday a nationwide 'rise in red' programme to press home their six-point demand including cancellation of the High Court verdict on promotion of craft instructors to junior instructors.
As part of the programme, students of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute formed a human chain in front of the institute at Tejgaon in the city around 11:45am on the day. They also covered the main gate of the institute with red clothe.
Other such institutes including those in Gazipur and other districts also held similar programmes.
Central representative of the 'Technical Students Movement' Sabbir Ahmed told the media that the main gates of the country's all polytechnic institutes were covered with red clothes.
The students of Dhaka Polytechnic formed their human chain in front of the institute with placards in their hands inscribed with their various demands.
They said that they would continue their movement until their demands were met.
Earlier on Friday the protesting students brought out processions wearing 'burial shrouds'.
On Thursday they met with additional secretary of Technical and Madrasah Education Division.
After the meeting, the students expressed their dissatisfaction.
Earlier on Wednesday the polytechnic students blocked roads in the city and some other districts of the country to press home their six-point demand.
The agitating students are demanding immediate transfer of all 'controversial' craft instructors appointed in 2021 under the Directorate of Technical Education and the continuation of the four-year Diploma in the engineering course with each semester lasting full six months.
They are also calling for restrictions on recruitment for the post of Sub-Assistant Engineer (10th grade), making sure these positions remain reserved for diploma engineers and reforms in the Technical Education Board to prevent non-technical personnel from holding key positions.
Other demands include amending the Directorate's recruitment rules, appointing qualified technical personnel to fill vacant posts and teaching positions, and ensuring 100 per cent seat allocation in the proposed four engineering colleges for diploma graduates so that they can pursue higher education.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
