Staff Correspondent:

Polytechnic students have withdrawn their decision to suspend ongoing protests despite Ministry of Education forming committee to address their six-point demands. They declared this to mass media on Wednesday.

“Students do not trust committee formed by Ministry of Education. Such committees were formed in past too, but our demands were never fulfilled. That’s why, with consent of all students, decision to suspend movement has been withdrawn,” said Md. Sabbir Ahmed, acting Cell Secretary of Technical Student Movement, organisation leading protests. Representative conference scheduled for Thursday will determine next course of action, Ahmed confirmed. Delegates from various regional polytechnic institutions have already arrived in Dhaka, with others urged to attend.

Students had previously announced suspension of movement during Tuesday night press conference at Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, whilst warning protests would resume if implementation faced delays or negligence.

Same afternoon, Technical and Madrasah Education Division under Ministry of Education established committee headed by Additional Secretary tasked with formulating roadmap for fulfilling six-point demands. Committee notably includes advisor from Technical Student Movement.

Movement represents significant challenge for education authorities, with over one lakh students enrolled across country’s polytechnic institutions.