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As part of their pre-announced “Long March to the Ministry of Education” programme, HSC examinees blocked roads at several key intersections in the capital, including Uttara, Science Laboratory, Mirpur-10 and ECB Chattar, after completing Wednesday’s examination.
The students took to the streets shortly after leaving their examination centres on Wednesday, demanding the resignation of Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon over the government’s decision to hold HSC examinations amid flooding and his alleged remark referring to students as “farm chickens.”
Although police requested them to clear the roads, the protesters remained firm in their position, causing traffic congestion in the affected areas.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Uttara East Police Station Morshed said the students had taken to the streets after the examination.
“We are requesting them to leave the roads. We remain on alert,” he said.
The protests stem from the government’s decision to hold HSC and equivalent examinations across the country on July 13, despite severe weather conditions, except in five districts under the Chattogram Education Board.
Images of examinees wading through waist-deep floodwater to reach examination centres sparked widespread criticism.
The situation intensified after a video circulated on social media allegedly showing the education minister referring to examinees as “farm chickens” during a phone conversation.
Controversy also erupted over errors in the Physics First Paper question, further fuelling students’ anger.
The students initially announced an eight-point set of demands, which was later reduced to three.
They are now demanding the suspension of HSC and equivalent examinations until the situation returns to normal, full marks for the erroneous Physics First Paper, and a public apology from the education minister.
During a parliamentary session on Tuesday night, the minister expressed regret and announced that the Physics First Paper, Accounting First Paper and Logic First Paper examinations held on Monday would be retaken.
Despite the announcement, the protesters remained unsatisfied. They are now demanding the resignation of the education minister and have continued their protest programmes to press home the demand.
