Diploma engineering students blocked the Dhaka–Mymensingh Highway in Gazipur on Friday evening, causing severe traffic disruption for about an hour.
The protest took place at Chandana Chowrasta under the banner of the Diploma Engineers Welfare Foundation, opposing a recent proposal to allocate 33 percent quota for BSc engineers in the post of deputy assistant engineer.
Police and protesters said the blockade began around 6:00pm and continued until 7:00pm, bringing traffic on the busy highway to a complete halt. Long tailbacks formed on both sides, causing significant suffering to commuters and transport operators.
Earlier in the afternoon, as part of a pre-announced programme, the protesting students brought out a procession from the Shimultali area, marched along Joydevpur Road and later gathered at Chandana intersection, where they blocked the highway.
The students said the recent press statement issued by the Ministry of Education failed to address their concerns. They warned that unless the committee behind the proposal is dissolved, what they described as “discrimination against diploma engineers” would continue.
Leaders of the Diploma Engineers Welfare Foundation alleged that the quota proposal was part of a broader attempt to undermine technical education and destabilise the country ahead of the national election. They announced tougher programmes if their demands are not met, including a nationwide road and rail blockade on Saturday and a long march to Dhaka on Sunday.
The protest follows a recommendation made on Thursday by a government-formed committee reviewing the professional demands of BSc and diploma engineers. The committee proposed reserving 33 percent of deputy assistant engineer posts for BSc engineers.
Mohammad Harun Or Rashid, officer-in-charge of Basan Police Station under Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said the students were persuaded to clear the highway after about an hour. “Traffic returned to normal following police intervention,” he said.
No injuries or incidents of violence were reported.
