FDEB warns of movement if attempts to curtail jobs for diploma engineers
The Forum of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (FDEB) has strongly protested and expressed concern over any attempt to open the government-designated 10th-grade posts of Sub-Assistant Engineer for all engineering graduates, warning of a tough programmes across the country if such an attempt is not stopped immediately.
The concern and protest were expressed in a press release signed on Sunday (27 September) by FDEB Central President Engineer Md Abdus Chattar Shah and General Secretary Engineer Zainul Abedin.
The release said diploma engineers have long served as Sub-Assistant Engineers in various technical sectors, including infrastructure, power, water, roads, railways and public works, in accordance to the manpower structures prescribed by the government.
“This is not a matter of favour, but an institutional arrangement developed based on the needs of the state and existing government rules and regulations,” the leaders said.
They alleged that a particular group has been recently trying to curtail the posts and promotion opportunities of diploma engineers by amending recruitment rules at various organisations.
As part of the move, attempts have reportedly been made to create opportunities for BSc engineers to apply for the 10th-grade posts of Sub-Assistant Engineer.
The release further said that the number of posts and promotion opportunities for diploma engineers are being reduced by unreasonable and unilateral amendments to the recruitment rules in various organisations, undermining their long-established rights.
“Recruitment to several thousand posts for diploma engineers has been kept suspended at organisations including the Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB), Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) and Northern Electricity Supply Company (NESCO),” it said.
The FDEB also alleged that diploma engineers’ seniority has been violated in various organisations through the formulation of discriminatory ‘promotion seniority policies’.
It further claimed that recruitment to hundreds of Sub-Assistant Engineer posts has been kept stalled on the pretext of harassment-related cases.
The FDEB said their clear position is that no initiative to curtail the designated field of a recognised technical profession in the name of establishing the rights of another profession can be accepted.
“If these posts are opened to all, the employment, promotion opportunities and professional rights of a large number of diploma engineers will be severely affected,” the organisation said.
The FDEB strongly demanded that such activities be stopped immediately and that the relevant government authorities follow the existing rules and regulations.
“Otherwise, the FDEB will announce a tough democratic and organisational movement involving more than 800,000 diploma engineers and over 450,000 polytechnic students across the country,” the release said.