BUET Students Demand Fair Recruitment and Accreditation Reforms

Students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) have demanded that recruitment exams for entry-level engineering positions be made open to all qualified candidates, abolishing quota-based promotions. They also called for the mandatory accreditation of non-accredited BSc Engineering programs under the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB).

During a sit-in held in front of the BUET administrative building on Tuesday, July 8, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, the students presented a three-point demand during a press briefing. Throughout the demonstration, they chanted slogans such as “Break the Syndicate’s Black Hands,” “We have shed blood and will shed more,” “No Quota, Only Merit,” and “No Room for Discrimination in My Golden Bengal.”

The students emphasized that entry into the engineering sector at the 9th-grade level — such as Assistant Engineer or equivalent — should be based solely on competitive examinations, requiring a minimum qualification of a BSc degree. “Quota-based promotions or creation of equivalent positions under alternative titles must be strictly prohibited,” they declared.

In their written statement, the students said that the engineering sector is currently plagued by severe disparities. “Due to irregular and excessive promotions, entry-level posts for BSc engineers are shrinking,” they said, adding that diploma-holding Sub-Assistant Engineers are being promoted into 9th-grade posts through internal quotas, bypassing proper procedure.

They alleged that some recruitment notices have even been withdrawn to facilitate such promotions. “Although promotion limits are supposed to be capped at 33% of vacant positions in many institutions, violations have led to promotions ranging from 40% to even 100%, squeezing opportunities for qualified BSc engineers,” they noted. This, they said, undermines the principle of equal opportunity enshrined in the Constitution.

They also pointed out the inconsistency in eligibility: “Only diploma holders are allowed to apply for 10th-grade technical posts. According to the Bangladesh National Qualifications Framework (BNQF), a diploma is categorized as Level 6, whereas a BSc degree is Level 7. Yet BSc holders are being excluded from posts accessible to diploma holders, which is not the case even in neighboring countries.”

The students’ three demands are: first, entry into the engineering sector at the 9th-grade or Assistant Engineer level must be based on merit through competitive exams, with a minimum requirement of a BSc in Engineering. No promotions through quota or the creation of equivalent posts should be allowed. Second, the 10th-grade technical positions (Sub-Assistant Engineers or equivalent) must be open to both diploma and BSc holders. Third, legal action should be taken against those using the title of “Engineer” without holding a BSc degree in engineering, and all non-accredited BSc programs should be brought under IEB-BAETE accreditation.

“This movement began in 2013,” the students said. “Those with diploma degrees mobilized a pressure group back then and secured their demands. Now, we are speaking out against that injustice.”

After declaring their demands, the students marched from the Registrar Building, circled Palashi intersection, and concluded the demonstration at the BUET Shaheed Minar.