HSC candidates clash at Bhola exam centre, vandalise college; 7 injured
Students claimed the ICT question paper was difficult and that invigilators did not assist them during the exam.
Several HSC examinees vandalised an examination centre in Bhola's Charfesson upazila and clashed with authorities today (11 July), claiming that the ICT question paper was difficult and that invigilators did not assist them during the exam.
The incident left at least seven people injured, including the college governing body president and teachers, according to college authorities. Police fired tear gas to disperse the agitated students.
Mahiuddin Bacchu, acting principal of Fatema Matin Women's College and acting officer of the examination centre management committee, said 884 students sat for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) subject of the HSC examination at the centre.
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After the exam ended around 1:15pm, more than 200 students gathered at the college gate, chanted slogans and threw eggs into the campus before breaking open two gates on the northwestern side, he said.
The students then entered the campus and vandalised windowpanes of the principal's office, creating panic among teachers and staff, he added.
He further said that police later brought the situation under control by firing tear gas shells and local BNP leaders and activists also helped the administration restore order.
The answer scripts were later sent safely to the post office with the assistance of the upazila administration, he mentioned.
According to witnesses, students became angry after finding the ICT question paper difficult and claiming that invigilators did not provide assistance during the exam. They later staged a protest and damaged parts of the college.
Charfesson Police Station Officer-in-Charge Farid Al Bhuiyan said police intervened after receiving information about the incident and brought the situation under control.
"Legal action will be taken if a formal complaint is filed," he said.
Charfesson Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rumana Afroze said students became agitated after finding the question paper difficult and alleging a lack of cooperation from teachers during the examination.
