Committee established for addressing demands of Bachelor of Science and Diploma Engineers
The government of Bangladesh has taken a significant step towards resolving the ongoing dispute between BSc degree holders and diploma engineers by forming a six-member committee. The committee, chaired by Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, was established to achieve consensus between the two groups.
The meeting, held at the Secretariat on September 17, was attended by university vice-chancellors, principals of polytechnic institutes, and heads of other relevant institutions. Members from both the diploma and BSc engineering communities are part of the committee, including representatives from the Institute of Engineers and a teacher of diploma engineering.
The committee has been tasked with finding a balanced solution to the conflicting demands of both groups. Three suggestions regarding professional titles were discussed: the use of prefixes before names (with 'Engineer' for BSc and 'Diploma Engineer' for diploma), no prefixes with qualifications mentioned after names, and no titles used at all. However, Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan did not mention any decision made regarding the issue of professional titles.
In future, foreign companies working in Bangladesh on projects like bridges or power plants will be required to hire local engineers - both degree and diploma holders - in specific proportions. This move aims to reduce dependency on foreign labor and make use of capable local professionals.
The lack of employment opportunities for engineers is identified as the root issue. In an effort to address this, the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration has been instructed to immediately begin filling vacant government posts.
The committee has already held three meetings and will continue discussions with heads of engineering organizations before finalizing its report. Both BSc degree holders and diploma engineers have agreed to suspend their protests until the committee submits its report.
Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan emphasized the importance of this committee, stating, "We need to ensure that we are making the most of our local talent. It is crucial that we find a way to build consensus between these two groups so that we can move forward and create a more skilled and diverse workforce."
The committee's efforts are a promising step towards resolving the dispute and fostering a more harmonious engineering community in Bangladesh.
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