Students stage sit-in in front of Parliament building

HSC examinees have taken position in front of Parliament House demanding three points, including the resignation of the Education Minister.

After a long blockade at Science Lab intersection on Tuesday (July 14) afternoon, the protesting students set off towards the National Parliament House in a procession. Later, they took up a position next to the Parliament House on Manik Mia Avenue and continued their protest.

The students had earlier given Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon an ultimatum to resign by 6 pm. They announced that they would continue their protest until their demands were met.

On Tuesday morning, students from various colleges first blocked Science Lab intersection. Later, they protested in front of the Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board. At one stage, brickbats were thrown and the gate was pushed. After that, the students returned to Science Lab intersection and blocked the road for the second time. This caused severe traffic jams on both sides of this important road in the capital.

In the afternoon, students marched from Science Lab towards the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and later took up positions at Manik Mia Avenue. It is reported that more than a hundred students participated in the protest there.

The three-point demands of the protesters are - the resignation of the Education Minister and a public apology, re-examination arrangements for all examinees who participated in the July 13 physics exam and those who were unable to participate, and the postponement of the July 15 HSC exam, publication of a new routine and ensuring student-friendly question papers.

Meanwhile, in the midst of the students' movement, Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon held an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister's Office in the Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday afternoon. Sources said that important decisions may be made regarding the ongoing situation, exam schedule and students' demands.