Diploma engineers decry industrial layoffs

"Retrenchment or layoffs is obviously not the only way to reforms," said the council's Member Secretary Kabir Hossain while reading out a written speech at a press conference at the Institute of Diploma Engineers.

They also placed a four-point demand, including reinstatement of 750 engineers and workers of BADC, BJMC, and BCIC.

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Other demands include removal of salary discrimination between the diploma and graduate engineers and withdrawal of the decision to enact Chartered Engineers Act.

"Efforts are on to cripple the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) by making long-experienced 525 Engineers and 2,000 officials and employees redundant in the name of reforms," Kabir Hossain said.

Referring to the economic growth in Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and Germany where mid-level technical manpower has a significant contribution, Kabir said, "There is a positive correlation between employment of mid-level technical manpower and per capita income."

The council will launch a two-month countrywide demonstration on October 19 to press home their demands.