Engineers Ensnared: Diploma Dominance and Degree Discrimination
Shaikh Shahrukh Farhan
Bangladesh’s engineering sector is now facing an unprecedented crisis. While the nation’s brightest minds spend four rigorous years earning engineering degrees from prestigious universities such as BUET, KUET, RUET, and CUET, their rightful opportunities have been held hostage by a syndicate of diploma holders.
On one side, diploma graduates—who complete a four-year program after passing SSC—occupy 100% of the quota for the post of Sub-Assistant Engineer. On the other side, BSc engineers are denied even the minimum chance to apply for the same positions.
This raises a critical question: when most government jobs at the 10th grade level require at least a bachelor’s degree, why does such discrimination exist only in the engineering sector?
According to many engineers, since 1994 diploma holders have gradually encroached upon professional engineering spaces through continuous movements and pressure tactics. From securing second-class status to capturing the post of Assistant Engineer in 2013, much of this progress was achieved through agitation, coercion, and unrest. The present scenario is even more alarming:
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In the 10th grade, 100% of the quota remains under the control of diploma holders.
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In the 9th grade (Assistant Engineer), 33% to 67% of positions are locked in as promotion quotas for diploma holders.
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In many departments, direct recruitment has nearly disappeared.
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Through questionable promotions, diploma holders have even made their way into BCS cadre positions.
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In some cases, despite joining in the same year, diploma holders are artificially given seniority over BSc engineers, thereby curtailing genuine career progression.
As a result, many qualified engineers are being deprived of promotions and recognition, forcing some to turn to banking jobs or leave the country altogether.
Concrete examples illustrate this imbalance: in the Roads and Highways Department, out of 245 Assistant Engineer posts, 160 are held by diploma holders, while only 63 are BSc engineers. In the Public Works Department, diploma holders occupy 42% of posts, surpassing the stipulated 33% promotion limit. Often, “acting” or “temporary” appointments are made, only to be regularized later, effectively shutting the door for BSc engineers to enter the 9th grade.
Anger and frustration in universities
Students at BUET, KUET, RUET, CUET, and other engineering institutions have long protested these inequities, but with little effect. Their frustration has now grown into a national concern.
Their demands are clear:
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The 9th grade Assistant Engineer post must require a BSc in Engineering as the sole qualification, with equal opportunity through a common recruitment exam.
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The 100% quota in the 10th grade Sub-Assistant Engineer post must be abolished, allowing applications from both diploma and higher degree holders.
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The title “Engineer” must be legally reserved only for BSc engineers, with penalties for its misuse.
No other profession in Bangladesh faces such anomalies. To become a doctor, one must earn an MBBS; to practice law, an LLB is mandatory; to qualify as a Chartered Accountant, specific courses must be completed. There are no shortcuts. Yet, only in engineering have diploma holders managed to override graduates through syndicate pressures.
A question for the government
If the engineering sector in Bangladesh is not meant for BSc engineers, then is it logical to continue running universities while allowing only polytechnic institutions to thrive?
Leaders of the engineers’ rights movement warn: “If the country’s brightest minds do not receive the dignity they deserve, Bangladesh’s technological excellence will collapse. Unless the government intervenes now, the word ‘Engineer’ will lose its meaning in this country.”
Writer: Youth Policy Thinker
Note: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and not of Digital Bangla Media. This piece has been published without editorial intervention, in the spirit of reflecting diverse viewpoints. Any grievances or agitation caused by the content remain the personal concern of the reader.
