Students from Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), joined by peers from other institutions, blocked major roads in Chattogram on Wednesday in protest against a police attack on engineering students in Dhaka and in support of Engineers’ Rights Movement.
The demonstrators, including students from CUET, International Islamic University, Premier University and Chittagong University, gathered at gate no. 2 area of Chattogram city around 5:00 PM.
Their road blockade caused heavy traffic congestion across key points, including Technical, Chawkbazar, Muradpur and GEC intersections.
The blockade remained in effect at the time of reporting.
The students voiced support for three-point demands of Engineers` Rights Movement, which include mandatory B.Sc. engineering degrees and recruitment exams for entry into 9th-grade (Assistant Engineer or equivalent) posts, a ban on promotions through quota or renaming of posts, and legal action against individuals using the engineer title without proper qualifications.
They also called for accreditation of all non-accredited B.Sc. engineering courses under IEB-BAETE.
During the rally, students also announced four additional demands. These include the immediate withdrawal of police officers involved in the Dhaka attack, particularly Deputy Commissioner of DMP’s Ramna Division Masud Alam; an unconditional apology from police for the incident; arrest and dismissal of individuals who issued death threats against Roknuzzaman, a former BUET student and current NESCO engineer and a government notification via executive order to implement the original three-point demands.
According to protestors, the police attacked students in Dhaka earlier in the day as they marched from Shahbagh towards Jamuna.
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