Students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) have announced a ‘Long March to Dhaka’ programme to press home their three-point demand, including the abolition of the 33% reserved quota for diploma engineers in the ninth grade.
The other two demands are in grade 10, 100% quota is reserved for diploma engineers, but it must be cancelled and opened to all.
In addition, the title of “Engineer” should not be used without a BSc degree and legal action must be taken against anyone who uses the title without qualification.
The agitating students will carry out the programme at Shahbagh intersection that will begin around 10 am on Wednesday.
The announcement was made after Shahbagh intersection was blocked from 3 pm to 8 pm on Tuesday, due to the authorities’ failure to give assurances on meeting their demands.
Wali Ullah, president of the Engineers’ Rights Movement, said that students from engineering departments across the country have been invited to participate in the programme.
The students alleged that former BUET student engineer Rokonuzzaman Rokon has received death threats and demanded immediate legal action against those responsible.
Meanwhile, traffic on roads in and around the city’s one of the busiest thoroughfares remained blocked for at least five hours due to the obstruction.