BSc Boldly Battles: Engineers Demand Rights

The BSc Engineers’ organization, Prokousholi Odhikar Andolon, has announced plans to hold rallies in divisional cities starting next week to press for the fulfillment of their three-point demands. Simultaneously, BSc engineering students have declared that they will continue the “complete shutdown” across all engineering universities in the country.

The announcement was made on Thursday evening, August 28, at a press conference held at the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) office in Dhaka, by the organization’s president, Mohammad Wali Ullah.

Wali Ullah stated, “The complete shutdown program in the country’s engineering and technology universities will continue. Divisional rallies will be held at the beginning of next week, followed by a national assembly in Dhaka.”

Addressing the violent police response during recent protests, he added, “Although the DMP Commissioner apologized after yesterday’s brutal attack, no investigation committee has yet been formed. If no action is taken against those responsible for the injuries to students, we will announce more stringent programs.”

Wali Ullah also emphasized the composition of the working committee formed to examine the rationality of their demands. “Academics must be included in the committee because the advisors and secretaries are busy with various bureaucratic duties. We do not want to give the committee more than 15 days.”

Earlier on Thursday, students began a procession from the Central Shaheed Minar around 5:30 pm. By 6:15 pm, upon reaching the Fishery Building (Matsya Bhaban), students encountered police obstruction. They staged a sit-in at Golchattar, blocking traffic, and initiated protests. During the demonstration, the students burned an effigy of Dhaka Metropolitan Police DC Masud Alam at 6:55 pm.

The protest march had proceeded from BUET campus through Shaheed Minar, TSC, Doel Chattar, Education Building, Press Club, and High Court before culminating at the Fishery Building blockade.