Polytechnic Students Block Highway in Comilla, Army Fires Blank Shots Injuring Students

Local Correspondent

Students from government and private polytechnic institutes under the Bangladesh Technical Education Board blocked the Dhaka-Chittagong highway at Kotbari’s Bishwa Road area in Comilla from 11 AM to 2 PM on Wednesday (April 16) under the banner of “Technical Students’ Movement”.

At 10 AM today, polytechnic students across Comilla and nationwide joined simultaneous blockade programs. In Dhaka’s Tejgaon, students from private polytechnic institutes and Technical School & Colleges (TSC) demonstrated at Satrasta intersection.

Protesting students blocked major highways including Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Khulna routes nationwide, causing severe traffic congestion.

They raised three key demands:
1. Cancellation through High Court of illegal promotions of Craft Instructors to Junior Instructor positions
2. Removal of open-age admission in Diploma Engineering courses
3. Reserved positions for Sub-Assistant passed candidates

When students refused to clear the highway despite requests, army personnel fired blank shots, after which protesters dispersed.

Polytechnic student groups posted bloodstained photos claiming army gunfire injured demonstrators, though security forces denied any live firing occurred. The injured received primary treatment at Comilla hospitals.

Kotbari Highway Police Station’s OC Iqbal Bahar confirmed temporary traffic disruption during the blockade, noting normalcy has been restored.