6-point demand: Polytechnic students to hold nationwide rallies today

Polytechnic students across the country are set to hold rallies today to press home their six-point demand. The announcement was made yesterday during a human chain organised in front of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute.

Students, under the banner of Karigori Chhatra Andolon, said the demonstrations would take place simultaneously at polytechnic campuses nationwide. Their primary objective is to draw the attention of top government officials. They also urged fellow students to maintain order and avoid causing public inconvenience during the rallies.

As part of yesterday’s “Rise in Red” campaign, students draped red cloth over campus gates and formed human chains, holding placards at strategic locations and along roadsides.

“We want to get our message across without disrupting public life. Our protests will continue until our demands are met,” said Sabbir Ahmed, a central leader of the movement.

On Friday, students marched in Dhaka’s Tejgaon area wearing white burial shrouds (kafon), symbolising their frustration. Similar protests took place in Jhenidah, Lakshmipur, Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, and other districts.

The protests followed dissatisfaction over the outcome of a meeting with education ministry officials held at the Secretariat on Thursday. After the meeting, student representatives said they had not received any official documents or seen any concrete initiatives from the ministry, prompting them to announce fresh programmes.

Their six-point demand includes the removal of “controversial craft instructors” appointed after 2021, the conversion of the diploma engineering programme into a full four-year course with six-month-long semesters, and ensuring that only diploma holders can apply for the post of deputy assistant engineer (Grade 10) and equivalent positions.

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