HSC examinees break off, carry away Ctg Education Board gate after protest

HSC examinees protesting in Chattogram broke off and carried away the main gate of the Chattogram Education Board office today (14 July) after a meeting with board officials over their seven-point charter of demands.

The incident took place around 5:00pm after the students ended their blockade at the city's 2 No Gate intersection and marched towards the education board office.

Earlier in the afternoon, a 13-member student delegation met board Secretary Professor Mohammad Jahirul Haque Swapan to discuss their demands.

Meanwhile, protesters outside the education board office vandalised the main gate and tried to unlock it. Later, some protesters broke off the gate and carried it away in a procession, according to the board secretary.

Speaking to The Business Standard, Swapan said the students raised seven demands during the meeting.

"Demands that fall under the authority of the education board and are feasible to implement have been reviewed with importance. 

Considering students' interests, necessary steps have already been taken on most issues, while initiatives have been taken to resolve others positively," he said.

However, some demands could not be implemented as they fall outside the board's jurisdiction, he added.

"To avoid any confrontation or unpleasant situation, the board showed maximum patience. We did not take any counter-action against the students and handled the situation with restraint," he said.

The students' demands include special arrangements for those who could not sit for the 13 July examination due to adverse weather conditions, reissuing damaged admit cards and registration cards, and preparing a practical new examination schedule with adequate preparation time before difficult subjects.

They also demanded action over what they described as derogatory remarks about students, measures regarding recent comments by the education minister, and effective steps to improve the overall education system.