Polytechnic students stage sit-in at High Court, demand verdict reversal

NN Online:

Students from various polytechnic institutes in Dhaka staged a sit-in and formed a human chain in front of the High Court on Sunday, demanding the cancellation of a High Court verdict related to a writ petition filed by craft instructors.

The protest, led by Karigori Chhatra Andolon Bangladesh, began in the morning and continued into the afternoon. Demonstrations and human chains were also held in other parts of the country in solidarity.

Md Mashfik Islam Dewan, a student of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute and a spokesperson for the protest platform, said:
“The appeal hearing on the craft instructors’ promotion verdict is currently underway. The Appellate Division has already suspended the High Court ruling, and a final decision is pending. We are continuing with our pre-announced protests until the final verdict is delivered.”

He added, “We are hopeful that the Appellate Division will overturn the High Court’s decision.”

Polytechnic students have long been advocating for a six-point charter of demands. Their movement gained momentum after they took to the streets on April 16. Following a week of demonstrations, the Ministry of Education formed a committee to draft an implementation plan, leading students to temporarily suspend their protests.

However, the suspension was short-lived. The very next day, students announced they would resume their agitation.

While the students agreed on May 7 to ease their shutdown and return to classes, they have since declared a continued boycott of form fill-ups and examinations.