Diploma graduates to be called sub-assistant engineers, not supervisors: Officials
Polytechnic students on Monday postponed their countrywide movement for 15 days following the government’s assurance of fulfilling their two-point demand, including identifying them as engineers instead of supervisors in their service.
“The government will fulfill their two-point demand within the next 15 days …their designation will be renamed as ‘sub assistant engineer’ in lieu of supervisor in their service,” said Education Secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury after a meeting with student leaders at the Secretariat in the afternoon.
Following the assurance, Bangladesh Karigari Chhatra Parishad, an association of polytechnic students, postponed their countrywide movement for 15 days.
“The authorities concerned will sit at a meeting within three to four days to take necessary steps regarding implementation of the decision,” Dr Chowdhury told reporters.
Housing and Public Works Secretary Khandakar Shawkat Hossain, president of the Institute of Diploma Engineers of Bangladesh (IDEB) AKMA Hamid, General Secretary Shamsur Rahman, leaders of Bangladesh Karigari Chhatra Parishad, Peshajibi Chhatra Shikkhak Sangram Parishad and Bangladesh Karigari Chhatra Parishad were, among others, present at the meeting.
The Education Secretary said the student leaders at the meeting assured them of withdrawing their agitation programme and will sit in their Tuesday’s examination.
Khandakar Shawkat Hossain said the gazette published in 2008 declaring diploma graduates supervisors in their job has already been sent to the Law Ministry to bring the proposed change in it.
Convener of Bangladesh Karigari Chhatra Parishad Zakir Hossain told UNB that government has accepted their demand for identifying diploma graduates as sub-assistant engineers instead of supervisors in their service.
“Following an assurance by two secretaries, we’ve postponed our movement for 15 days,” Zakir said adding, “We’ve already urged all students to take part in Tuesday’s examination.”
He also demanded the release of 350 students arrested by police during their countrywide agitations during the last two days.
Member secretary of Diploma Engineers Peshajibi Sangram Parishad Khandakar Mainur Rahman said they at the meeting also demanded that the industrial training allowance be raised to TK 8,000 from the existing TK 4,000.
The polytechnic students started their countrywide agitation programme on Sunday and continued it today (Monday) blocking roads and vandalising vehicles and boycotting their scheduled examinations during the period.
Source: UNB Connect
