The High Court has stayed the verdict granting a 30% promotion quota for craft instructors to the post of Junior Instructor. However, this decision has not satisfied protesting polytechnic students, who are demanding the complete cancellation of the verdict and the related case.

Speaking to Jago News on Sunday night (April 20) in response to the court’s stay order, Zobayer Patwary, a key representative of the Technical Student Movement Bangladesh, expressed dissatisfaction.

“This case has been going on for a long time. Sometimes it’s stayed, then revived again. The next hearing is scheduled for May 18. There’s no guarantee that the 30% quota won’t be reinstated then. That’s why we want this case to be dismissed entirely. At the same time, we’ll continue our movement to press for our other demands,” he said.

Regarding their next course of action, Zobayer Patwary added, “We have given a 48-hour ultimatum. The government can easily accept our demands within this time. But instead, various delaying tactics are being used. We will observe the situation over the next 48 hours. After that, a new programme will be announced based on a collective decision.”

He also warned that technical students would not return to classes until their demands are met. Zobayer, a student of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, is a leading figure in the ongoing student protests.

Meanwhile, a post on the official Facebook page of the Technical Student Movement Bangladesh echoed the same sentiment. “The verdict allowing the promotion of craft instructors to Junior Instructor positions must be cancelled, not just stayed. We demand the immediate and complete dismissal of this conspiratorial case,” the post read.