Students of polytechnic institutes across the country today threatened to launch a long march to Dhaka if the government fails to respond to their six-point demand within the next 48 hours.
The announcement came from a grand rally held in front of Dhaka Mohila Polytechnic Institute in the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. Hundreds of students under the banner of Karigori Chhatra Andolon Bangladesh joined the demonstration, which began around noon.
Earlier in the day, students from various public and private polytechnic institutions gathered at the Dhaka Polytechnic Institute and brought out a protest procession around 11:00am. The procession marched to Agargaon and later joined the grand rally near the women's polytechnic institute.
The demonstrators said they have been protesting for over eight months, but the government has shown no initiative to address their concerns. They claimed their movement has remained peaceful and organised, but warned of tougher action if their demands continue to be ignored.
"We do not want to create public suffering. But the government has forced us to come to the streets," said a student leader.
"If there is no clear response within 48 hours, we will begin a long march towards Dhaka. And this time, it will not be symbolic," he added.
The students also condemned a recent attack on their fellow students in Cumilla, allegedly carried out during a demonstration. Speakers at the rally demanded an impartial investigation into the incident and swift punishment of those involved.
Carrying placards and chanting slogans, protesters described their demands as legitimate and necessary to protect the quality and future of technical education in the country.
On Saturday, as part of "Rise in Red" campaign, students draped red cloth over campus gates and formed human chains, holding placards at strategic locations and along roadsides.
On Friday, students marched in Dhaka's Tejgaon area wore white burial shrouds (kafon), symbolising their frustration, and took to the streets. 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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