Gazipur Rail Blockade Over 33% Quota Decision Sparks Disruption

Diploma engineers and students staged a protest by blocking railway tracks in Gazipur on Tuesday, opposing a decision to allocate a 33 percent quota for BSc engineers in the post of Sub-Assistant Engineer. As a result of the blockade, train movement on the Dhaka–Rajshahi railway route came to a halt around 10:30 am, leaving at least four trains stranded on both sides of the route.

The blockade took place on Tuesday, 3 February, in the Bhurulia area of the Gazipur metropolitan region. According to the latest reports, the protest was continuing until 1:00 pm.

Sources said the blockade was part of a pre-announced programme by the Diploma Engineers’ Welfare Foundation. A protest march was brought out from the Shimultali area of the city, which later reached Bhurulia and occupied the Dhaka–Rajshahi railway line. As train operations were suspended on the route, passengers were forced to endure severe inconvenience, while train schedules were significantly disrupted.

During the demonstration, representatives of the Diploma Engineers’ Welfare Foundation claimed that the proposal to introduce a 33 percent quota for BSc engineers in the Sub-Assistant Engineer post is part of a conspiracy to derail the upcoming national election, destabilise the country, and destroy the technical education system. They demanded the immediate withdrawal of the recommendation and urged the authorities to meet the longstanding demands of diploma engineers.

Joydebpur Railway Station police outpost In-Charge Kaiyum Ali said that due to the railway blockade, four trains were stranded at Joydebpur, Tongi, Kaliakair, and Tangail stations.

DBTech/ESM/NM/OR