Ctg HSC examinees stage sit-in demanding education minister's resignation
The protesters gathered at the city's No. 2 Gate intersection around 3pm.
Highlights:
- Ctg HSC examinees demand minister's resignation
- Students allege exam discrimination
- Protesters warn of tougher action
Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinees in Chattogram staged a sit-in protest today (15 July), demanding the resignation of Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon over what they described as discriminatory treatment of students affected by recent floods.
The protesters gathered at the city's No. 2 Gate intersection around 3pm, chanting slogans and vowing to continue their movement until their sole demand is met.
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The students said they launched the protest in response to alleged unequal treatment of examinees in flood-hit areas, as well as the education minister's recent remarks regarding the HSC examinations.
"We have been subjected to discrimination," said Jubayer Hossain Alvi, a student of Bangladesh Navy College, speaking to The Business Standard.
"The education minister said his ministry is not responsible for the question papers because they were prepared by the previous government. But that explanation is unreasonable."
"He had earlier said there would be a uniform question paper nationwide. However, examinations were postponed in Chattogram while students elsewhere sat for the tests. How can the question papers still be considered uniform? Equal treatment has not been ensured, so the education minister should resign," he added.
Alvi also argued that holding examinations at different times with different question papers undermines fairness and equal opportunity for all candidates.
Yesterday (14 July), the students held a day-long sit-in protest outside the Chattogram Education Board office, blocked roads and symbolically offered a gayebana janaza (funeral prayer in absentia) for the education minister.
Although representatives of the protesters met with the board's secretary, they said the discussions failed to address their concerns and announced that the movement would continue.
The protesters have now dropped their earlier seven-point charter of demands and are pursuing a single demand - the resignation of the education minister.
They also warned of tougher protest programmes if their demand is not met.
