For six months, BSc engineering students across the country had been protesting under the banner of the Engineers’ Rights Movement, pressing for a three-point demand. In a landmark verdict yesterday (13 August), the High Court directed the authorities to allow BSc engineers to apply for 10th-grade technical engineering posts.
Following the ruling, students of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) brought out a victory rally yesterday (14 August). They also protested what they described as attempts by diploma engineers to undermine the court’s verdict, create unrest, and push for quota reinstatement. The rally began at the CUET roundabout and ended at the main gate.
Nasib Al Mueed, a fourth-year Electrical and Electronic Engineering student, said, “In June, we filed a writ petition over our three demands. The court recognised the discrimination faced by BSc engineers and ordered the authorities to allow us to apply for 10th-grade technical engineering posts and to amend the recruitment policy.
“In light of the order, the 15 August Dhaka Metro Rail recruitment test has been postponed. Meanwhile, diploma technicians announced protests against our demands, which we see as an attempt to create chaos. In response, we gathered today at CUET to defend our cause.”
Mohammad Shah Alam, a second-year Mechanical Engineering student, said, “We are concerned that a section of diploma holders is trying to create unrest by disregarding the court’s verdict. They are spreading confusion and attempting to divide engineers. Such actions are an insult to the nation’s laws and judiciary, and an effort to destabilise the country.”
In June, the minimum requirement for 10th-grade technical engineering posts was set as a diploma in engineering, excluding BSc engineers. A writ petition challenged the decision.
Following the hearing, the court observed that BSc engineers had long been subjected to serious discrimination. It ordered the recruitment policy to be amended and applications opened to all BSc engineers. On 13 August, the court directed that BSc engineers be allowed to sit for the recruitment exam for 10th-grade section engineer posts scheduled for 15 August.