HSC examinees block Science Lab, demand education minister's resignation
Students, mostly Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinees, blocked the Science Laboratory intersection in Dhaka today, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon over the ongoing board examinations.
The protesters alleged that the authorities ignored repeated calls to postpone the examinations despite heavy rain and widespread waterlogging, while also raising concerns over errors in question papers.
The demonstration, joined by several guardians, began around 11:00am, disrupting traffic at the busy intersection. Additional police personnel were deployed to the area.
Chanting slogans such as "No politics in education" and "We want the education minister's resignation", the students said many candidates had to wade through knee- or waist-deep water and mud, while some travelled by boat to reach examination centres.
They claimed many examinees were delayed or unable to reach centres on time because of the weather.
"We want the minister's resignation because he is not working for students' welfare. Instead, he called us 'farm chickens'," one protester said.
Another protester from BAF Shaheen College alleged that students were being forced to sit examinations despite errors in question papers and severe difficulties caused by waterlogging.
The protesters also demanded a public apology to teachers and students for what they described as administrative failures, an end to "experiments" with the examination system, and the postponement of the remaining HSC examinations until weather conditions and examination centres become suitable.
Around 12:00pm, a police team led by an additional deputy commissioner of the Ramna Division spoke with the demonstrators and asked them to nominate a five-member delegation for talks with the relevant authorities. However, students refused the proposal and continued the demonstration.
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