Police Baton-Charge HSC Protesters Outside Parliament

Police dispersed Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinees staging a demonstration outside Bangladesh’s National Parliament on Tuesday evening after the protesters attempted to continue their sit-in near the main entrance to the parliamentary complex.

The incident took place on Manik Mia Avenue, where hundreds of students had gathered to press a three-point set of demands centred on the ongoing HSC examinations. According to witnesses, police began efforts to clear the area at around 6:30pm, initially urging the demonstrators to leave peacefully and restore normal movement around the high-security zone.

The situation escalated shortly before 6:45pm when a group of protesters attempted to move towards the Parliament premises. Police then used batons to disperse the crowd, forcing the students to retreat from the area. Security was subsequently tightened around the Parliament complex to prevent any further escalation.

The demonstration marked the latest stage of a day-long protest that began in the morning at the Science Laboratory intersection in the capital. Students first blocked the busy junction before marching towards the vicinity of the University of Dhaka. Police prevented them from proceeding in that direction, prompting the protesters to redirect their march through Palashi before gathering outside the Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board.

After holding a demonstration there, the students returned to the Science Laboratory area and later marched towards the National Parliament, where they launched another sit-in programme.

Participants included HSC examinees from several educational institutions, including City College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Bir Sreshtho Munshi Abdur Rouf Public College, Udayan College, Milestone College, Commerce College, Dhaka Oriental College, Hamdard Public College and Siddheshwari College, among others.

The protesters placed three principal demands before the government. They called for the suspension of HSC examinations until severe weather conditions and flooding had completely subsided, a fresh examination for candidates who were unable to sit the 13 July examination because of adverse weather, and the resignation of the Education Minister within 24 hours.

Students argued that conducting examinations during prolonged heavy rainfall and widespread waterlogging had placed candidates under immense physical and psychological strain. Many reportedly struggled to reach examination centres because roads were flooded, transport services were disrupted and travel became hazardous. They maintained that a significant number of examinees were either delayed or unable to attend their examinations altogether.

The protesters also claimed that the examinations had been held before many students had been able to complete preparation for the full syllabus, leaving candidates at a disadvantage. They said they were not opposed to rigorous assessment but believed examinations should be conducted under fair conditions that ensured equal opportunities for all examinees.

The latest confrontation reflects growing frustration among sections of HSC candidates over the management of this year’s examination schedule. At the time of the incident, there had been no immediate announcement from the authorities regarding the students’ demands, while the protest movement continued to draw attention in several parts of the country.