Students raise new demands while upholding Education Minister's resignation

Students protesting against taking HSC exams in adverse weather conditions and alleging mistakes in the question paper have raised two new demands while upholding Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Haque's resignation.

This demand was made at a press conference of general examinees of 'HSC 26 batch' at Science Lab intersection of New Market Police Station in the capital on Thursday. The demands were raised by Dhanmondi Ideal College student Rayat Ahmed.

One of the two new demands is that the existing rules for passing the CQ and MCQ sections separately should be changed and the system of passing the two sections together should be introduced. The other is that alternative or special arrangements should be made for students who cannot take the exam due to unavoidable reasons.

Criticizing the Education Minister at the press conference, Rayat Ahmed said that the future of an entire batch has become critical due to the minister's hasty decision. He said that any change in the education system should be gradual, and that unplanned tests should not be conducted around a specific batch, putting their future at risk.

The student also claimed that they have come to know that a student has chosen the path of suicide due to the mental stress caused by the current question system, and the Education Minister should take responsibility for it, he said. He announced that the agitation program would continue until the demands are met.

Stating that they have no political affiliation with the agitation, Rayat Ahmed said that they are not against any government, they only want their right to education and relief from the ongoing suffering. He also clarified that they have no affiliation with a Facebook page called 'Boiler Chicken Party'.

Rayat Ahmed said that the students have temporarily suspended the road program like today to avoid rain-related problems and inconvenience to the movement of the common people. However, he said that the agitation will continue until the demands are met. He mentioned that the next program and updated information will be informed through 'Student of Bangladesh', 'College Network' and the own Facebook pages of various colleges. Several other students of Dhanmondi Ideal College were present at the press conference with him.