HSC examinees block Uttara, Dhaka-Aricha highway for 2nd day demanding edu minister's resignation
Protesters blocked the road, bringing traffic on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway to a standstill in both directions, with vehicles heading towards central Dhaka and Gazipur unable to pass.
Students taking Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams blocked all four lanes of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Uttara today (15 July), a day after staging similar demonstrations in different districts over their three demands, including the education minister's resignation.
The students gathered in front of the BNS Center in Uttara at around 1:30pm, shortly after completing their examinations, before occupying the highway.
The protest brought traffic on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway to a standstill in both directions, with vehicles heading towards central Dhaka and Gazipur unable to pass.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Witnesses said examinees from several educational institutions, including Rajuk Uttara Model College, Nawab Habibullah Model School and College, and Uttara High School and College, joined the protest.
The demonstrators chanted slogans demanding the resignation of the education minister and the fulfilment of their other demands.
"We have taken to the streets to demand our rights," a student from Nawab Habibullah College said. "We want the education minister to resign and we will make our announced long march [to the education ministry] a success."
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner Jisanul Haque said the students have occupied the road while pressing multiple demands and are continuing their demonstration.
Meanwhile, DMP Additional Commissioner Anisur Rahman said traffic has come to a complete standstill in both directions in front of the BNS Center due to the protest.
Traffic police are working to manage the situation, he added.
The protest follows yesterday's demonstrations, when HSC candidates blocked roads at the Science Laboratory intersection and in Uttara, demanding Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon's resignation, suspension of examinations until weather conditions improve and fresh examinations for candidates who missed tests due to flooding and heavy rain.
Similar protests were also held in Chattogram, Bogura, Barishal and other areas.
While speaking in parliament yesterday, the minister urged HSC examinees to end their protests and return to their studies, assuring them that no student would be disadvantaged by disruptions caused by floods, natural disasters or administrative shortcomings.
During the question-and-answer session, the minister said the government was closely monitoring the situation and would take all necessary measures to protect students' interests.
The government was more concerned than they were about ensuring the examinations were conducted smoothly and addressing the ongoing disaster situation, he said.
The minister added that students who had been unable to sit for their examinations because of flooding, other natural disasters or administrative failures would be given another opportunity to take the exams if necessary.
"If any student is deprived due to floods, natural disasters or administrative shortcomings, we will certainly arrange another examination for them if needed," he said.
Students block Dhaka-Aricha Highway
Students are also staging a protest by blocking the Dhaka-Aricha highway at the Pakiza intersection in Savar, demanding the resignation of the education minister.
This is causing kilometres-long traffic congestion before calling off the demonstration due to heavy rain.
The protesters began their demonstration at around 1:45pm by occupying the Aricha-bound main carriageway, bringing traffic to a halt.
The blockade led to a traffic tailback stretching several kilometres along the Aricha-bound lane.
During the protest, the students chanted slogans criticising the Education Minister and said they would continue their movement until their demands were met.
After maintaining the blockade for nearly an hour, the protesters temporarily cleared the Aricha-bound lane at around 2:40pm before shifting to the Dhaka-bound carriageway, where they resumed their demonstration.
As the rain intensified, however, the students suspended their protest for the day and withdrew the highway blockade at around 3:15pm.
Traffic movement on the Dhaka-Aricha highway gradually returned to normal following the withdrawal of the blockade.
Personnel from Savar Model Police Station and other law enforcement agencies remained present at the scene throughout the protest.
