BUET Blasts Brutality: University Condemns Police Assault on Students

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) has strongly condemned the police attack on protesting students.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 27, signed by BUET Registrar Professor Dr. N.M. Golam Zakaria, the university expressed its protest against the incident.

The statement noted that students of BUET and other educational institutions had been demonstrating for the past several days, demanding the protection and consolidation of the rights of BSc (Engineering) graduate engineers in securing positions as Assistant Engineers or equivalent, as well as the removal of quota-related discrimination in the relevant grade.

On Tuesday afternoon, the BUET Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor met with the Education Adviser at the Secretariat, requesting urgent measures to implement the students’ demands. Subsequently, on Wednesday, by order of the President, an eight-member committee was formed under the chairmanship of Adviser Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan, involving the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, and the Ministry of Railways, to examine and recommend solutions to the professional demands of BSc and diploma graduates.

However, on Wednesday, when students from BUET and other institutions attempted to march towards the Chief Adviser’s residence, Jamuna, to press their demands, police reportedly used tear gas, batons, and sound grenades against them.

"As a result, many students were seriously injured. Instead of resolving the issue peacefully, the police carried out such a brutal attack on the students, which is in no way acceptable. The BUET administration is deeply shocked and outraged by this behavior of the police and strongly condemns the attack. The BUET administration expects that, following due investigation, the government will take swift action against those responsible for this assault," the statement read.