Students begin long march from Science Lab towards Secretariat

Protesting students have started marching towards the Secretariat from the Science Laboratory intersection in the capital as part of the 'Long March to the Education Ministry' programme announced with three-point demands, including the resignation of the Education Minister. Security measures have been strengthened near the education building in anticipation of the programme.

A group of students blocked the Science Lab intersection around 2:30pm on Wednesday (July 15), bringing traffic to a temporary halt in the area. After blocking the road for about 15 to 20 minutes, they proceeded in a procession towards the Secretariat. Around 3:45pm, students were seen taking position in the Curzon Hall area of Dhaka University.

New Market Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Ayub Hossain said around 2:35pm, 50 to 100 students gathered at the Science Lab intersection and blocked the road. After some time, they started marching towards the Secretariat.

Road blocked in Uttara as well
Meanwhile, students also protested with the same demands in front of the BNS Center in the capital's Uttara. Students started gathering there after 1pm. Later, around 1:30pm, they blocked the road, halting traffic on both sides and causing a long tailback. Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Uttara Division Tarek Ahmed Beg confirmed the matter.

Protests with three-point demands
Students have been staging protests, rallies and road blockades in Dhaka, Chattogram and various parts of the country since Tuesday over grievances regarding the conduct of HSC examinations amid rain and waterlogging, errors in the Physics question paper and the quality of questions.

Continuing from that programme, they announced on Tuesday night that a 'Long March to the Education Ministry' would be held from 3pm on Wednesday if the scheduled examinations were not postponed.

The three demands of the protesting students include the resignation of Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon, accountability for his objectionable statements regarding students, and a resolution to various irregularities related to the ongoing HSC examinations. However, the Education Minister expressed regret in Parliament on Tuesday over his comments about students.