Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 14th July 2026, 6:52 PM
Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan held an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Tareq Rahman at the National Parliament Complex on Tuesday afternoon, as protests by HSC candidates spread across several parts of the country over examination-related grievances.
The meeting took place amid mounting pressure from students demanding the Education Minister’s resignation, an apology to the nation and a review of the ongoing Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination arrangements. No official details about the discussion were immediately disclosed.
The protests began after students expressed anger over holding the HSC examinations during heavy rainfall and waterlogging, which they said caused severe difficulties for many candidates. On Tuesday, students from various colleges organised demonstrations, road blockades and rallies in Dhaka and several other districts, including Mymensingh, Barishal, Bogura, Narayanganj, Chattogram and Gaibandha.
The demonstrations affected traffic movement on several important roads and highways, creating inconvenience for commuters.
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In Dhaka, students demanding the Education Minister’s resignation and raising a three-point demand programme returned to the Science Lab intersection after protesting in front of the Dhaka Education Board office.
At around 3:45pm on Tuesday, the students took position at the Science Lab area, halting traffic on the busy road. The blockade resulted in severe congestion in surrounding areas.
Earlier in the morning, students had blocked the Science Lab intersection before moving towards Dhaka University’s Vice-Chancellor’s Chattar. Police stopped them from entering the university area, after which the protesters moved through Palashi intersection and gathered in front of the Dhaka Education Board office.
Students from several institutions, including Dhaka City College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Birshreshtha Munshi Abdur Rouf Public College, Udayan College, Milestone College, Commerce College, Dhaka Oriental College, Hamdard Public College and Siddheshwari College, took part in the demonstrations.
Students alleged that the Physics First Paper examination contained errors and that the overall standard of the questions was unsuitable for HSC candidates.
Some students of Birshreshtha Munshi Abdur Rouf Public College claimed that two out of eight questions in the examination had mistakes, while the remaining questions were unusually difficult. They said the paper appeared closer to the standard of university admission tests rather than an HSC examination.
Students from Dhaka Ideal College’s science department also raised concerns over the difficulties caused by adverse weather. They said many candidates could not reach examination centres on time due to rain and waterlogging, while some students reportedly fell on the roads while travelling. They also complained that some admit cards were damaged after being soaked in rain.
The students questioned whether the authorities would take responsibility for the difficulties faced by candidates during the examination period.
In Uttara, students continued their protest near BNS Tower and both sides of the ECB Chattar area, blocking roads and disrupting traffic movement.
The blockade caused major congestion on the Airport-bound section of the Dhaka–Mymensingh Highway. Long queues of vehicles reportedly stretched towards the Kuril Flyover, leaving commuters stranded for extended periods.
In Narayanganj, a group of students held a protest rally in front of the Central Shaheed Minar at Chashara, demanding suspension of HSC and equivalent examinations amid the ongoing flood situation. They also called for a re-examination for students who failed to attend the examination on 13 July due to natural disasters.
The students said flooding, waterlogging and transport problems had made it difficult for many candidates in different districts to safely reach examination centres. They urged authorities to consider the situation before continuing the examination process.
In Mymensingh, HSC candidates blocked roads around Town Hall at around noon, demanding the Education Minister’s resignation, suspension of examinations during the flood situation and implementation of their other demands. The blockade disrupted traffic on the Mymensingh–Tangail Highway. Later, students also staged a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
In Bogura, students organised a protest procession from Satmatha and marched towards the Deputy Commissioner’s office. They demanded the Education Minister’s resignation and the removal of the Education Secretary, warning of tougher programmes if their demands were not addressed within 24 hours.
Students in Barishal blocked the Dhaka–Barishal Highway in front of the Barishal Education Board office at around 12:15pm. The blockade caused vehicles on both sides of the highway to remain stuck, creating difficulties for passengers.
In Gaibandha, students blocked the Gaibandha–Palashbari regional highway near the railway crossing at around 3:30pm. The blockade left numerous vehicles stranded on both sides of the road and caused significant suffering for commuters.
The nationwide protests have increased pressure on the authorities to address students’ concerns regarding examination arrangements, weather-related difficulties and alleged problems with question papers. The Education Ministry has yet to announce any final decision regarding the students’ demands.
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