Nationwide student protests demanding education minister's resignation

Students have staged protests and blocked roads in Dhaka and various parts of the country, demanding the resignation of Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon over the decision to hold HSC examinations amid continuous rain and waterlogging.

The protests on Tuesday, July 14, saw students from various colleges take to the streets in the capital as well as in Uttara, Barishal, Cumilla, Bogura and Mymensingh. They also alleged errors and excessively difficult questions in the Physics examination.

In the capital, students from 12 to 15 educational institutions blocked the Science Lab intersection from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, halting traffic on Mirpur Road. Later, they marched towards Dhaka University, but were blocked by police at the VC Chattar. They then proceeded through Nilkhet and Palashi to the Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board in Bakshibazar, where they gathered around 2:45 pm and chanted slogans demanding the minister's resignation.

At one stage, several protesters threw bricks and pushed against the board's gate. Law enforcement personnel took position there to control the situation.

The protesting students alleged that the Physics examination contained two errors out of eight questions, with the remaining questions being as difficult as university admission tests. They also expressed anger that the examinations were held without considering the adverse weather, which prevented many examinees from reaching centres on time, with some facing accidents on the way and many having their admit cards damaged by rain.

The Science Lab programme was attended by students from Dhaka City College, Dhaka Ideal College, Government Bangla College, Siddheshwari Girls College, Lalmatia School and College, Rajarbagh Police Lines School and College, BAF Shaheen College, and 12 to 15 other educational institutions. They chanted slogans including "Point one, demand one — Education Minister's resignation" and "Students' legitimate demands must be met."

Elsewhere, students blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway at Uttara's BNS Centre, halting traffic on the highway. Similarly, the Dhaka-Barishal highway was blocked in front of the Barishal Education Board, causing long traffic jams and suffering for passengers.

In Bogura, students held a protest rally and demanded the education minister's resignation and the removal of the education secretary. They threatened stricter programmes if their demands were not met within 24 hours.

In Cumilla, students under the banner of "Cumilla's Conscious Student Society" held a protest rally at Kandirpar and then marched to the Education Board to demonstrate. In Mymensingh, students blocked the Mymensingh-Tangail highway at the Town Hall area, disrupting traffic.

Police said students were largely peaceful, but additional forces have been deployed in Dhaka and other areas to control the situation.