Technical Students End 24-Hour Ultimatum Protest

Dhaka, 3 February 2026 – Students from Bangladesh’s technical education sector ended their protest at Tejgaon’s Satrastha intersection today after issuing a 24-hour ultimatum to the interim government. The demonstration, which disrupted traffic for nearly three hours, was staged in opposition to a government recommendation regarding recruitment criteria for engineering positions.

The students, primarily from diploma engineering programmes alongside BSc engineers, had blocked the intersection from around noon, demanding the withdrawal of a recommendation to recruit diploma and BSc engineers for the role of Assistant Sub-Engineer in the 10th-grade technical cadre. According to the protest organisers, the recommendation undermines the prospects of technical students who have pursued vocational and diploma pathways.

Traffic was severely affected throughout the blockade, causing widespread congestion and delays. Commuters and drivers reported significant inconvenience as vehicles were stranded on adjacent roads.

At 3:10 PM, the students voluntarily lifted the blockade following a statement from Ashraful Islam Mishan, a central representative of the Bangladesh Technical Student Movement. Mishan emphasised that the government had been given 24 hours to meet their demands. Should there be no resolution within this period, he warned, technical students from across the country would converge on Dhaka, escalating the movement.

“Tomorrow coincides with the sacred observance of Shab-e-Barat, so no formal programme is planned. Nevertheless, if our demands are not addressed within 24 hours, new protest activities will be announced,” Mishan stated.

Traffic authorities also noted the extent of the disruption. Tania Sultana, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Tejgaon Traffic, told Prothom Alo that the road blockade had a cascading effect on nearby streets, intensifying congestion across the area.

Key Details of the Protest

The students’ protest underscores ongoing tensions over government recruitment policies and the perceived marginalisation of technical education graduates in Bangladesh’s civil engineering sector. Authorities continue to monitor the situation, while commuters are advised to plan alternative routes in the coming days as potential follow-up actions are considered.