Protesting Students Head for Secretariat After Uttara Demonstration

Students protesting in Bangladesh’s capital have launched a long march towards the Secretariat, pressing a three-point demand that includes the resignation of the Education Minister and the suspension of the ongoing Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations. The demonstrators began their march after ending a road blockade in Uttara, escalating a movement that has gathered momentum over concerns about holding public examinations during severe weather conditions.

The procession set off at around 3:45 pm on Wednesday (15 July) from the BNS Centre area in Uttara, where hundreds of students assembled shortly after completing the day’s HSC examinations. Earlier in the afternoon, protesters staged a sit-in in the same area, disrupting traffic and causing inconvenience for commuters, office workers and other road users. Traffic flow gradually returned to normal after the students cleared the road and began their march towards the Secretariat.

The protesters argue that continuing HSC and equivalent examinations amid persistent rainfall, widespread waterlogging and ongoing flooding in several parts of the country places many candidates at a serious disadvantage. According to the students, travelling to examination centres has become increasingly difficult in affected districts, while many candidates face uncertainty because of damaged transport links and flood-related disruptions. They insist that the current situation creates unequal conditions for examinees and undermines fairness in the examination process.

The demonstrators said they had expected the authorities to announce a decision on postponing the examinations by Tuesday. When no such announcement was made, they proceeded with their previously declared programme. Wednesday’s long march began immediately after the completion of the day’s examination, reflecting what organisers described as the next phase of their protest movement.

The campaign follows similar demonstrations held on Tuesday (14 July), when students blocked roads and organised protest rallies at Science Lab intersection in Dhaka and in several other parts of the country. Those protests were triggered by the government’s decision to continue HSC and equivalent examinations despite heavy rainfall, extensive waterlogging and flood conditions that have affected many regions.

The movement has centred on a three-point demand, with students calling for the immediate suspension of the examinations, the implementation of their broader demands relating to the examination situation, and the resignation of the Education Minister. Protesters maintain that public safety and equal access to examinations should take precedence while large parts of the country continue to experience weather-related disruption.

As the march moved towards the Secretariat, authorities tightened security in and around the government administrative complex. Members of law enforcement agencies were deployed in the surrounding areas to monitor the situation and maintain public order. Security arrangements were strengthened to manage the procession and minimise the risk of any untoward incidents, while officials continued to observe developments closely.

The latest march marks another escalation in the student-led protests, which have increasingly focused on the challenges faced by examinees during adverse weather. Attention is now centred on whether the authorities will respond to the students’ demands or maintain their existing examination schedule.