Diploma Engineers Decry Proposed Quota, Warn of Wider Protests

The Diploma Engineering Students, Teachers and Professionals Struggle Council has warned of launching movements of any scale if any “covert maneuver” is attempted to allow entry of higher degree holders or to preserve quotas in the 10th-grade Sub-Assistant Engineer or equivalent posts. As part of the same warning, diploma engineers held human chain programmes at district headquarters across the country.

On Sunday, February 1, senior leaders staged a human chain in front of the National Press Club in protest against a proposal by a government-formed committee—tasked with resolving professional issues between BSc and diploma degree holders in the engineering sector—to reserve a 33 percent quota for BSc engineers in 10th-grade Sub-Assistant Engineer or equivalent positions.

The programme was presided over by the organisation’s central convener, Engineer Md. Akheruzzaman, and moderated by General Secretary Md. Imam Uddin. Diploma engineer leaders urged the government committee to withdraw the proposal, stating that it contradicts the government decision of 1978.

The leaders said such self-destructive proposals in the engineering profession would destabilise the entire engineering workforce. They further alleged that any attempt to sabotage the 13th National Parliamentary Election through such tactics would not be accepted by the nation under any circumstances.

Speakers at the programme included Engineer Md. Moniruzzaman, Engineer Kazi Sakhawat Hossain, Engineer Mirza Mizanur Rahman, Engineer Abdur Rahman, Engineer Zainul Abedin, Engineer Md. Ershad Ullah, Engineer Azizul Islam, Engineer Tarikul Islam Tarik, Engineer Bacchu Mia, Engineer Parvez Mosharraf Rarhi, Engineer Mominul Islam, Engineer Raihan Mia, teachers’ leader Engineer Md. Alamgir Hossain, Engineer Md. Sakhawat Hossain, Engineer Taiyabur Ali Mukul, and student leaders Jobayer Patuari, Mashfik Dewan, Habibur Rahman Habib, Sithi, Payel, and Anima, among others.

DBTech/SR/EK/OR