Dissatisfied polytechnic students vowed to intensify their protests following what they described as unsatisfactory discussions with education officials previously.

Nearly 70 percent of the student representatives expressed frustration after three-hour meeting failed to address their six-point demands.

On Thursday noon, April 17, 18-member delegation from Technical Students Movement Bangladesh met with Rehana Yasmin, Additional Secretary of Technical and Madrasha Education Division, at the Secretariat. Students emerged at approximately 3 PM visibly disappointed with the outcome.

"We`ve been thoroughly misled," declared a spokesperson for the protesters.

He said, "We expected to meet directly with the Education Advisor but instead were palmed off to an Additional Secretary who merely took our written demands and promised to pass them upwards through bureaucratic channels."

Students had temporarily suspended their planned nationwide railway blockade after receiving the invitation to meeting.

This followed Wednesday`s all-day road blockade at Tejgaon`s Sat Rasta intersection and similar demonstrations outside polytechnic institutes across the country.

"Our protest has paused momentarily, but we shall return to our respective institutions and announce fresh programmes with greater determination," warned another student.

Their demands include cancellation of the controversial 30% promotion quota for Craft Instructors, implementation of a four-year quality curriculum with English-medium instruction, proper job placement for Diploma Engineers, reservation of technical management positions for technically qualified individuals, establishment of an independent Technical Education Ministry and creation of a dedicated Technical University.