Dhaka, Apr 17 (V7N) – Student representatives from government and private polytechnic institutes are set to meet with officials at the Ministry of Education this afternoon to discuss their six-point charter of demands, prompting a temporary suspension of their nationwide railway blockade program.

In a statement issued Thursday morning, Md. Shakib Ahmed, Cell Secretary of the Technical Students' Movement Bangladesh, confirmed the development. The statement noted that the students were invited to the meeting following the intervention of Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus and the Education Advisor, and that a decision to ease the blockade was made unanimously by polytechnic institutions across the country.

Students have now taken up positions on their respective campuses, awaiting the outcome of the meeting. A new program will be announced based on the results of today’s discussions, the statement said.

Meanwhile, as part of the ongoing movement, a major administrative shake-up took place. Md. Mostafizur Rahman Khan, the Principal of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, was transferred and attached to the Directorate of Technical Education, following mounting pressure and discontent among students.

The six-point demands include reforms to curriculum structure, internship and job placement policies, and professional recognition, which have been central to the weeks-long protests by technical students across the country.

The student body has warned that if their demands are not met, they will intensify their movement in the coming days.

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