Education Minister Expresses Regret in Parliament

Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon has expressed regret in the National Parliament over a personal remark that sparked widespread criticism, while also outlining the government’s plan to reschedule Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations postponed due to flooding in parts of the country.

The minister made the statement during the budget session of Parliament on Tuesday (14 July) at around 7:30 pm, after a day marked by nationwide student demonstrations demanding his resignation and changes to the ongoing HSC examination schedule.

Addressing lawmakers, Milon said many people had objected to one of his personal comments, which had circulated widely on social media and become a topic of political debate. He insisted that he had never intended to offend or target anyone.

“I did not say anything with the intention of hurting anyone. Even so, if anyone has been offended by my remarks, I express my regret,” the minister told Parliament.

He also responded to growing concerns surrounding the HSC examinations, particularly those affected by severe flooding in areas under the Chattogram Education Board. According to the minister, the Ministry of Education had been closely monitoring the evolving situation from the outset and had already decided how the postponed examinations would be conducted.

He said the delayed examinations would be held alongside the alternative question paper examinations for Physics Second Paper, Logic and Accounting under the Chattogram Education Board. The arrangement, he explained, was designed to minimise further disruption while ensuring fairness for affected candidates.

The Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee had earlier suspended HSC and equivalent examinations scheduled for 8, 11, 13, 15 and 16 July across all districts under the Chattogram Education Board because of flooding and deteriorating weather conditions. The postponed subjects included English Second Paper, Information and Communication Technology, Physics First and Second Papers, Accounting First and Second Papers, Logic First and Second Papers, Geography First Paper, Higher Music First Paper, Pali First Paper and Arabic First Paper.

While the minister was addressing Parliament, tensions remained high outside the legislature.

Earlier in the evening, HSC candidates marched from the Science Laboratory intersection in the capital to the National Parliament complex, where they staged a sit-in demanding the minister’s resignation. The demonstrators also called for a public apology over his earlier remarks, a fresh examination for candidates affected by the adverse weather on 13 July, the postponement of upcoming examinations and the publication of a revised examination routine with more student-friendly question papers.

Police initially attempted to persuade the protesters to leave the area peacefully. The situation escalated when some demonstrators reportedly tried to move towards the Parliament premises. Police then dispersed the crowd using batons. Later, some protesters regrouped near Aarong, where clashes broke out after brickbats were reportedly thrown at police officers, prompting another police chase.

The day’s demonstrations had begun much earlier. At around 5:00 pm, City College examinee Md Miraj Hossain announced the protesters’ three-point demand on behalf of the students gathered at the Science Laboratory intersection. He said the Education Minister should resign by 6:00 pm and apologise to the nation for what students described as his “inappropriate” remarks. He also demanded that candidates who either missed the 13 July examination or were severely affected by the adverse weather be given an opportunity to sit a fresh examination.

Throughout the protests, students chanted slogans calling for the minister’s resignation and criticising his previous comments. Demonstrations were also held in several parts of Dhaka, including Science Laboratory, Mirpur and Uttara, where road blockades caused heavy traffic congestion and disrupted movement across major roads in the capital.

Although the minister’s statement in Parliament addressed both the controversy over his remarks and the postponed examinations, it remains unclear whether his apology and the government’s latest decisions will be enough to ease the concerns of protesting students.