Students from various polytechnic institutes across the country staged a blockade at the Sat Rasta area in Tejgaon from 11 AM on Monday, demanding a six-point charter of reforms. Their demands included recruiting technical personnel, opportunities for higher education in government institutions, and comprehensive reforms in the polytechnic education system.
The protesting students alleged that the quality of education is being affected due to the appointment of non-technical persons on the technical board. Students are not getting proper education as these people do not have adequate knowledge of important subjects like physics, chemistry and mathematics.
Due to the blockade, vehicular movement in the industrial area from Mohakhali to Moghbazar came to a complete halt. The students created barricades with bamboo on both sides of the road and created severe traffic jams. As a result, the common people have to suffer for a long time.
The Secretary of the Madrasa and Technical Education Department of the Ministry of Education visited the scene during the blockade and spoke with the students. He assured the students of considering their demands and requested them to return to their classes. Following the Secretary’s assurance, the students withdrew their protest, and after a long six hours, vehicular movement returned to normal.
This incident has once again highlighted the existing problems in the polytechnic education system. Although the students’ demands are justified, methods like road blockades cause suffering to the general public.
