Shahbagh Calm Despite Planned Student Protest

A second consecutive day of demonstrations was announced by a section of Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examination candidates following growing anger over the government’s decision to hold examinations during severe weather and remarks made by Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon. Although protesters had called for the minister’s resignation and announced a long march towards the Ministry of Education, no visible gathering had emerged at Shahbagh in Dhaka by Wednesday afternoon, allowing traffic to continue without major disruption.

The latest round of protests came as HSC and equivalent examinations in five subjects were held simultaneously across 59 districts of Bangladesh on Wednesday. The examinations began at 10:00 am and concluded at 1:00 pm under the previously announced national schedule.

On the eve of the examinations, organisers and student coordinators used social media platforms to urge candidates to join demonstrations after completing their tests. In the capital, Shahbagh, the area in front of the BNS Centre in Uttara, Science Laboratory and Moghbazar were identified as assembly points before participants were expected to march towards the Ministry of Education.

Despite those announcements, Shahbagh presented a largely routine picture immediately after the examinations ended. One of Dhaka’s busiest intersections remained active with office workers, students and commuters moving through the area as usual. Private cars, buses, motorcycles and rickshaws continued operating throughout the afternoon. While traffic slowed periodically because of the capital’s regular congestion, there were no reports of road blockades or significant transport disruption linked to the planned protest by midday.

Security measures were noticeably strengthened across the Shahbagh area. Members of law enforcement agencies maintained a visible presence at key intersections and surrounding roads, remaining on alert in anticipation of possible demonstrations. Additional monitoring was also in place to help preserve public order and allow authorities to respond quickly should the situation change.

Students involved in the movement argue that conducting public examinations during adverse weather conditions places candidates at unnecessary risk and creates considerable hardship for those travelling to examination centres. Protest organisers have also claimed that comments made by the Education Minister left many examinees feeling disrespected, adding to existing frustration surrounding the examination schedule. These concerns prompted calls for the minister’s resignation and the announcement of renewed protest programmes.

Meanwhile, the authorities proceeded with the examinations according to the official timetable, and candidates attended centres across the country as scheduled. Education officials and local administrations had made preparations to ensure that examinations continued smoothly while also reinforcing security arrangements in major urban areas in anticipation of possible demonstrations.

Although no significant protest activity had materialised at Shahbagh by early Wednesday afternoon, attention remained focused on whether students would later gather at the designated venues across Dhaka and whether the planned march towards the Ministry of Education would ultimately take place. The evolving situation continued to be closely monitored by the authorities, commuters and the wider public, as any large-scale mobilisation later in the day had the potential to affect both traffic and public order in parts of the capital.