Students from government and private technical institutions, including Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, have lifted their roadblock at Satrastha Junction in Tejgaon, Dhaka, but continue to hold a sit-in at the site. Following the removal of the blockade, traffic has resumed through the junction.
The students had blocked the road around 11:15 am on Wednesday, demanding action on four key issues. The road closure caused severe traffic congestion in the surrounding areas, inconveniencing commuters and drivers. By 2:00 pm, the students withdrew the blockade but remained stationed at Satrastha Junction. Vehicles are now allowed to pass through unblocked portions of the road.
Representatives of the protesting group, operating under the banner ‘Technical Student Movement Bangladesh,’ stated that while the roadblock has been lifted temporarily, they will continue their sit-in at the junction.
The four demands of the students are:
Ensure maximum punishment for those who issued public threats against diploma engineers through the Engineering Rights Movement;
Immediately halt all state-sanctioned activities supporting the three unreasonable demands of BSc engineering students;
Fully implement the six-point demands outlined by the Technical Student Movement, Bangladesh;
Launch the one-channel education system for engineering students.
Md. Mashfique Islam, President of Technical Student Movement Bangladesh, said that teachers have also expressed solidarity with the students’ movement. Teachers from four technical institutions, including Dhaka Polytechnic Institute and Dhaka Women’s Polytechnic Institute, have joined the protest in support of the students.
