Engineering Engagement Ensures End to Protests
A six-member committee has been formed to address the professional concerns of engineers holding BSc and diploma degrees, with all ongoing protest activities suspended until the committee submits its recommendations. University vice-chancellors and polytechnic institute principals, acting as guardians of the protesting engineers, provided this assurance. However, no decision has yet been made regarding the official designation to be used by the engineers—whether “Engineer” or “Diploma Engineer.”
The decision emerged during a committee meeting on Wednesday, September 17, at the Ministry of Public Administration’s conference room. The meeting, which lasted nearly an hour, was tasked with evaluating the legitimacy of the demands from both BSc and diploma engineers. The six-member committee comprises representatives from the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh, BSc engineering faculty, and protest leaders on one side, and the Institute of Diploma Engineers, diploma engineering faculty, and protest representatives on the other. Notably, the committee has no designated chairperson; all members work collectively.
The meeting was presided over by Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, advisor to the Ministries of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Road Transport and Bridges, and Railways. Also present were Education Advisor Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, Industry Advisor Adilur Rahman Khan, Environment Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan, ICT and Telecom Special Assistant Foyez Ahmed Taiyeb, and Road Transport and Bridges Special Assistant Sheikh Moinuddin, among others.
After the session, Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan stated, “This committee will work to find an effective, practical, and acceptable solution to resolve the professional dispute. Until the committee submits its recommendations, the protests will remain suspended.” He added that three proposals regarding title usage had been considered: BSc graduates using “Engineer,” diploma holders using “Diploma Engineer,” placing titles after names instead of before, or using no designation at all.
Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan further explained, “BSc engineers and diploma engineers are protesting with different demands—three-point demands for BSc holders and seven-point demands for diploma holders. Today we met with the guardians of both groups. Vice-chancellors of universities and principals of polytechnic institutes attended. We realized that the demands of the two groups partially contradict each other. The committee will work to build a bridge between these conflicting demands so they can reach a consensus, somewhat like a national consensus commission. The best solution is one they arrive at themselves.”
Earlier, on August 28, a 14-member working group was formed to identify issues in the engineering profession, led by Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Nazrul Islam, with Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan as president and Kazi Mohammad Mozammel Haque as member-secretary. At that time, Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan emphasized that discussions with guardians and employers of protesters were necessary before any unilateral acceptance of demands.
