Despite the government’s offer of fresh tests for candidates who missed exams due to adverse weather, HSC examinees protested for a second consecutive day in Dhaka and several districts, demanding optional retests for those who sat exams amid rain and waterlogging.
The protesters were divided over whether Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon should resign. One group gave him until 10:00pm yesterday to step down, while another dropped it and instead placed a six-point demand before the government.
The first group blocked Shahbagh around 6:00pm and withdrew the blockade about an hour and a half later after announcing the deadline. It warned that students would return to the Science Lab intersection this morning if the minister remained in office.
In the afternoon, the other group marched from Science Lab towards the education ministry under its “Long March” programme. Police stopped them with chained barricades near Shikkha Bhaban around 4:00pm. Law enforcers, equipped with a water cannon, were deployed behind the barricades. After remaining there for about two hours, the protesters left and issued their demands.
“We do not want the education minister to resign. We want him to accept our six demands and reform the education system without putting any pressure on students,” one protester said.
The protesters demanded optional fresh tests for those who sat for exams in adverse weather, with the higher score between the original exam and the retake to be counted.
They also called for full marks for errors in question papers, a short break in the examination schedule, fairness in marking as the question-paper pattern has changed, and instructions for invigilators to maintain a calm exam environment.
In a statement under Rule 300 in parliament, Milon said candidates who missed any HSC or equivalent examination because of adverse weather or other unavoidable reasons would be allowed to sit the corresponding postponed examination with Chattogram education board candidates.
The tests will be held on the dates and at the times fixed for the postponed Chattogram board examinations, using the same question papers, he said.
The minister also announced full marks for errors in questions six and seven of the Physics First Paper, adding that those responsible for preparing the flawed questions had been suspended.
COMMUTERS SUFFER
After yesterday’s exams, students blocked roads at Science Lab and near the BNS Centre in Uttara, while another group blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Savar.
The blockades triggered long tailbacks on Mirpur Road and roads leading to New Market, Elephant Road, Dhanmondi and Shahbagh. In Uttara, traffic on both sides of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway was disrupted.
Many passengers got off buses and walked as rain added to the suffering of office-goers, patients, students and other commuters stranded for hours.
In Barishal, examinees blocked the Dhaka-Barishal highway from around 3:00pm, disrupting traffic on 32 routes linking the division with Dhaka and other parts of the country. The blockade continued until at least 5:30pm. Protesters alleged that this year’s question papers were unusually difficult and included questions outside the syllabus.
Students in Lakshmipur and Narayanganj also demonstrated after their examinations, demanding Milon’s resignation and reforms to the education system.
Meanwhile, a platform of teachers and employees not covered by the Monthly Pay Order scheme, backed Milon, alleging that groups with vested interests were trying to exploit the protests.
The platform, Sommilito Non-MPO Oikya Parishad, in a statement, claimed that “fascist and hegemonic forces” had instigated students. The platform urged examinees to return to their studies, saying Milon was being targeted over his reform initiatives.
The protests began on Tuesday after heavy rain and waterlogging disrupted the July 13 exams. Errors in the Physics First Paper and Milon’s remarks likening the examinees to “farm chickens” further fuelled their anger. Milon later apologised in parliament for the remarks.
[Our correspondents in respective districts contributed to this report.]
