Government Forms Committee to Address BUET Students’ Demands Amid Long March Clashes

Following a turbulent clash between engineering students led by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and police near the Hotel InterContinental during their “Long March to Dhaka” toward the Chief Adviser’s residence, Jamuna, the Government of Bangladesh has constituted a high-level committee to address the professional demands of BSc and diploma engineers.

The newly formed committee, outlined in a government notification, is tasked with examining the legitimacy of these demands and submitting recommendations within one month. The committee’s composition and terms of reference are as follows:

Committee Composition:

1. Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan (Chair) Adviser, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources; Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges; and Ministry of Railways
2. Adilur Rahman Khan (Member) Adviser, Ministry of Industries and Ministry of Housing and Public Works
3. Professor Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar (Member) Adviser, Ministry of Education
4. Syeda Rizwana Hasan (Member) Adviser, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; and Ministry of Water Resources
5. Engineer Mohammad Rezaul Islam (Member) President, Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh
6. Engineer Md. Kabir Hossain (Member) President, Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh
7. Professor Dr. Engineer Tanvir Manjur (Member) Chairman, Board of Accreditation for Engineering and Technical Education, Bangladesh
8. Kazi Muhammad Mozammel Haque (Member-Secretary) Additional Secretary (SOP), Ministry of Public Administration

Terms of Reference:

• To examine the professional demands of BSc and diploma engineers and assess their legitimacy.
• To prepare a report with recommendations for the government.
• The committee must submit its report within one month.
• The committee may co-opt additional members as needed.
• The Ministry of Public Administration will provide secretarial support.

The notification, effective immediately, aims to address the students’ grievances following their protests, which intensified after Tuesday’s blockade and Wednesday’s clash. The police response near the Hotel InterContinental, a restricted zone under a Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) ban since 13 March 2025, drew criticism for its use of force against peaceful protesters. No injuries or arrests were reported, but the incident disrupted traffic and sparked outrage online.

The students, rallying under the “Engineer Rights Movement”, faced baton charges, tear gas, and sound grenades as they attempted to breach police barricades in a restricted zone, intensifying their protest for reforms in engineering recruitment. Their demands include barring diploma engineers from using the “engineer” title, preventing their promotion to ninth-grade positions, and ensuring BSc engineers have equal access to tenth-grade (sub-assistant engineer) jobs alongside diploma holders, with slogans like “No compromise, only struggle, struggle, struggle” and “Merit over quota, merit, merit” echoing their resolve.

Tasked with examining the legitimacy of the students’ demands and submitting a report with recommendations within one month, the committee is empowered to co-opt additional members and will receive secretarial support from the Ministry of Public Administration. The formation of this committee, effective immediately, follows a five-hour Shahbagh blockade by students on Tuesday and aims to resolve the ongoing unrest, which saw police use force to disperse protesters in a restricted area under a Dhaka Metropolitan Police ban since 13 March 2025. Wali Ullah emphasized that the movement seeks to end disparities in the engineering sector, and the students remain committed to their cause as the nation awaits the committee’s findings.