National Engineers Conference 2026 held on Engineer Rights Day
Merit-Based Recognition Urged for Engineering Professionals
- Call for meritocratic evaluation and strategic utilization of engineers for national progress
- Urgent focus urged on AI, automation, and robotics while curbing brain drain
- Demands raised to eliminate recruitment discrimination in BCS and core engineering posts
Emphasizing the critical need for technological expertise in state-building, speakers at a national convention urged the government to ensure merit-based evaluation of engineers and integrate their technical capacities into national development planning. The call was made during the 'National Engineers Conference 2026', organized by the Engineers Rights Movement with comprehensive support from the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), on the occasion of 'Engineers Rights Day' on Thursday, 27 August 2026.
Addressing as the chief guest, BNP Acting Secretary General Advocate Md. Ruhul Kabir Rizvi stated, "To advance a nation, the priority given to engineers and technologists must be amplified. A just state should naturally ensure high-level avenues for qualified professionals. However, BSc engineering graduates currently face inadequate professional recognition and shrinking employment scopes." Citing China's economic transformation through engineered infrastructure and scientific research, he stressed replacing 'mobocracy' with 'meritocracy' and highlighted local engineering triumphs such as the Teesta Barrage.
Speaking as a special guest, Convener of the Association of Engineers Bangladesh (AEB) Engr. Shahrin Islam Tuhin expressed concern over declining technical cadres in BCS examinations and urged targeted strategic roadmaps to resolve systemic professional bottlenecks.
Chairing the convention, IEB President Engr. Mohammad Riazul Islam (Riju) remarked, "The world has transitioned into an era of advanced frontier technology—spanning Artificial Intelligence, automation, robotics, and big data. Engaging skilled engineers in project planning, modeling, and oversight is vital to control costs and maintain standards. Lack of domestic research and leadership scopes is accelerating brain drain, which demands immediate institutional remedies."
Presenting the keynote paper, President of Engineers Rights Movement Engr. M Wali Ullah alleged discriminatory recruitment practices, asserting that direct recruitment for assistant engineer posts has dropped to 33 percent against the 67 percent statutory mandate.
The conference was also addressed by IEB Vice Presidents Engr. Khan Manjur Morshed and Engr. A T M Tanbeer-ul Hasan (Tomal), Honorary General Secretary Prof. Dr. Engr. Md. Sabbir Mostafa Khan, Engr. K M Asaduzzaman, Engr. Abdullah Al Mamun, Engr. Rabiul Alam Uzzal, CUET Professor Dr. Engr. Md. Arafat Rahman (Rana), BUET Professor Dr. Engr. Md. Iqbal Hossain, and chief organizer Engr. Sakibul Haque Lipu. The session was moderated by Acting Honorary General Secretary Engr. Muhammad Ahsanul Russell.
IEB leaders including Engr. Sheikh Al Amin, Engr. Niaz Uddin Bhuiyan, Engr. Sabbir Ahmed Osmani, Engr. Noor Amin Lalon, Engr. Helal Uddin Talukder, and students from various engineering universities were also present.
//DBTech/SFS/MIS//
