Engineers’ Equity Echoed: BSc Degree Demanded as Mandatory
The Engineers’ Rights Movement has reiterated its demands to make a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree mandatory for professional engineers, abolish the 100% quota for sub-assistant engineer posts, and reserve the title “Engineer” exclusively for BSc degree holders.
These demands were reaffirmed at the first annual general meeting of the movement, held on Friday, August 22, at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), Ramna, Dhaka. Following the election of new leadership, BSc graduate engineers voiced their frustrations, saying that while graduates from top universities strive hard to earn engineering degrees, career opportunities in the sector are steadily closing for them. In contrast, they alleged, a powerful group has taken over the engineering field through the dominance of the so-called “diploma syndicate” and shortcut promotions. This has, they warned, turned the word “Engineer” from a title of honor into a term of mockery.
They further stated that in government service, where the minimum qualification for the 10th grade is a bachelor’s degree, the sub-assistant engineer position in the engineering sector remains reserved 100% for diploma holders. Even in the case of 9th grade assistant engineer positions, they argued, promotions have given diploma holders overwhelming control.
“Out of 245 assistant engineer positions in the Roads and Highways Department, 160 are occupied by diploma holders. In the Public Works Department, although the promotion quota for diploma holders is 33%, in reality, they occupy 42% of the posts. At the same time, even when recruited at the same time, BSc engineers are being deliberately placed as juniors in terms of seniority,” they added.
The engineers also raised the question: “Just as an MBBS degree is mandatory to become a doctor and an LLB degree to become a lawyer, why should it not be the same to become an engineer?”
They expressed sharp criticism of IEB’s role, accusing the body of siding with diploma interests through years of silence. As the protesters phrased it, “IEB is not the home of engineers, but has turned into a stage for discrimination.”
Speakers at the meeting warned that if such disparities are not removed, there will come a day when studying engineering at universities will lose all meaning. Qualified engineers will move abroad, leaving behind a culture of shortcuts within the country.
The newly elected president of the Engineers’ Rights Movement, M. Wali Ullah, declared: “The Engineers’ Rights Movement will not only stand against the diploma syndicate but will also play a determined role in eliminating discrimination, irregularities, and inefficiencies across the engineering sector. This movement will remain a historic example of unity among engineers.”
