Nationwide Student Protests Escalate, Demanding Minister’s Resignation
Thousands of students across Bangladesh have taken to the streets since Tuesday morning, blocking roads and disrupting traffic, culminating in a protest outside the National Parliament House in Dhaka. The demonstrations began over concerns about Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams, held amid continuous rain and widespread waterlogging. Students are demanding the immediate resignation of Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon.
Protests intensified throughout Tuesday in various parts of Dhaka. Students from several colleges first blocked the Science Lab intersection, a key traffic point. They then moved to Dhaka University and the Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, before returning to block the Science Lab intersection again in the afternoon.
As evening approached, a large group marched towards the National Parliament. They gathered at Manik Mia Avenue, directly outside the Parliament House, chanting slogans like “fake, fake” during the ongoing parliamentary session. Earlier, at the Education Board, some students reportedly hurled bricks and shook the gates. Police dispersed protesters in some areas, leading to minor injuries.
Students voiced several complaints, including errors and difficult questions in the physics exam paper. They claimed this year’s paper was significantly harder than previous years. The constant rain and waterlogging on Monday also prevented many from taking their scheduled exams.
During a parliamentary session, Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon addressed the situation. He assured students that their issues would be resolved and urged them to return to their studies. The minister promised full marks for any mistakes in the physics paper and suggested that retakes could be held at centers that faced significant problems.
However, students quickly rejected the minister’s statements. They reiterated a three-point demand: the minister’s immediate resignation by 6 PM today, an apology for what they called inconsistent statements, and the re-conducting of exams for all students who missed the July 13 paper due to adverse conditions. They also called for the postponement of Wednesday’s exam and the release of a new, student-friendly schedule.
A student leader, Mirajul Islam, explained that the protests continued because past promises from the minister had not been fulfilled. Students expressed a lack of trust in his latest assurances. They vowed to continue their movement until all demands are met.
Beyond Dhaka, similar protests and road blockades occurred in various districts. These included Barisal, Mymensingh, Cumilla, and Bogura. Students also blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Uttara, one of the capital’s main entry points.
