DCCI, IDEB take up project to develop 500 diploma engrs as entrepreneurs

FE Report
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) have taken up a project to develop 500 diploma engineers as entrepreneurs and to create employment by expanding the small and medium industries.
The project will be implemented by 2014. A two-day conference is in progress at IDEB in this connection. Industries minister Amir Hossain Amu inaugurated the conference on Friday with IDEB president AKM Hamidur Rahman in the chair. State minister for home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was present as the special guest. IDEB general secretary Shamsur Rahman placed various demands on behalf of the diploma engineers.
IDEB representatives said there are about 0.4 million diploma engineers in the country who have been working in the fields like agriculture, education, health, energy, pure drinking water, communication, industrial production, information technology services, planned urbanisation etc. But they are illogically being called as supervisors in various sectors which undermines their dignity.
The IDEB representatives demanded recognition of diploma engineers as engineers, one special increment like the degree engineers, 50 per cent quota for them in case of promotion, 3rd time scale/senior scale in case of deprivation from promotion for 15 years etc.
The industries minister assured them that the present government will settle their lawful demands including their designation as soon as possible.