Police fired tear gas and sound grenades, water cannon to disperse students of engineering universities at the Intercontinental intersection, marching towards the Jamuna, as they blocked the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka for the second day on Wednesday to press home their three-point demand.
The protesters have taken position on Minto Road, where multiple (5–6) sound grenades were heard.
Due to the intensity of tear gas, the students left their position on Minto Road and are moving back towards Shahbagh at around 2pm.
As part of their pre-announced "March to Dhaka" programme, the protesters began occupying the main road at Shahbagh around 11am.
Students of engineering universities, including Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), blocked the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka since Wednesday morning to press home their three-point demand.
Gathering in processions, the students occupied the intersection around 11:30am, said Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khalid Mansur.
Their demands are: They have been demanding recruitment for the 9th grade (assistant engineer or equivalent) must be conducted through competitive examinations, and candidates must have at least a BSc degree in engineering. No promotion will be allowed through quotas, and equivalent positions cannot be created under different titles for the purpose of promotion.
Recruitment examinations for the 10th grade technical post (sub-assistant engineer or equivalent) must be open to both diploma and BSc degree holders.
Strict legal measures must be taken against individuals using the title "engineer" without holding a BSc degree in engineering. Non-accredited BSc engineering courses must be brought under proper accreditation by IEB-BAETE through appropriate procedures.
The blockade is part of their "Long March to Dhaka" programme announced yesterday. Vehicular movement in the Shahbagh area remained suspended, causing severe traffic congestion, the police official said. Many commuters had to walk to reach their destinations as vehicles were diverted to alternative routes.
Earlier on Tuesday, BUET students blocked the Shahbagh intersection and announced the "Long March to Dhaka" programme, urging all students to gather at Shahbagh on Wednesday.
The students had earlier boycotted their classes and examinations on the same grounds.
