Engineering students on Sunday staged demonstrations again, pressing for reforms in the recruitment and promotion system of engineers in the public service sector.
At a rally they also vowed to continue their movement until their demands were met.
The students under the banner of 鈥楶rokoushali Adhikar Andolan (engineers鈥� rights movement), mostly with students from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, launched their protests on August 27 by blocking the Shahbagh crossing in Dhaka city. 聽
Their demands include鈥攁ll the candidates must pass a recruitment examination and hold at least an engineering bachelor鈥檚 degree with honours to get the ninth grade engineering jobs in public sector; quotas for promotion must end; promotion must not be granted by creating equivalent positions under different titles; and restriction must be put on the use of the title 鈥榚ngineer鈥�.
On Sunday the protesting students from different universities started a rally from the BUET Shaheed Minar, marching through the areas of Central Shaheed Minar, Doyel Chattar, Shikkha Bhaban, Matsya Bhaban and National Press Club.
Ending the rally in front of the National Press Club, the students condemned the government for not paying heed to their demands, while also alleged that no action was taken against those threatening to kill some engineers and rape some female engineering students.聽
They also demanded immediate publishing of the probe report by the police over the recent attack on the protesting engineering students.
At least 18 people were injured in a clash while the police charged batons, hurled sound grenades and tear gas shells on the protesting engineering students on August 27 when they were marching towards the chief adviser鈥檚 residence Jamuna.
The students announced a 鈥榗omplete shutdown鈥� in all engineering universities from August 28 until further notice, protesting at the police attack and pressing for their demands.
Amid the protests, the government on August 28 formed a 14-member working group to review their demands.
Before that on August 27, the government formed another high-powered committee headed by adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan to review the demands.
After observing the shutdown programme at different engineering universities for four consecutive days, the students withdrew their shutdown on August 31 鈥榗onsidering maintaining the country鈥檚 stability鈥�.
