Students Protest, Demand Education Minister’s Resignation

Students in Kurigram staged a human chain demanding the resignation of Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan, protesting over the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination schedule, alleged issues with question paper quality and difficulties faced by candidates due to recent heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions.

The demonstration was held on Tuesday (14 July) in front of the Kurigram Press Club, where a group of HSC candidates gathered and raised various slogans in support of their demands. The protesters called for greater consideration of students’ difficulties during major public examinations and criticised what they described as a lack of sensitivity towards candidates’ circumstances.

During the programme, students chanted slogans including demands for the education minister’s resignation and statements opposing political influence in the education sector. They said examination policies should prioritise the interests and wellbeing of students rather than creating additional pressure during an already challenging period.

The protesters argued that the examination process had continued without adequately addressing the difficulties faced by candidates. According to them, the authorities should have considered postponing examinations until weather conditions improved and the situation became more manageable for students across the country.

Several HSC candidates spoke at the human chain, including Mustafa Sarker from the science department of Kurigram Government College, Sharif Ahmed from the humanities department, and Sakib Al Hasan, a humanities student from Kurigram Collectorate School and College.

The students highlighted the impact of recent heavy rainfall, which caused waterlogging in several parts of Bangladesh, including major cities such as Dhaka and Chattogram. They said many candidates had to travel through waterlogged roads, muddy paths and heavy rain to reach examination centres. Some students reportedly had to use boats to reach their destinations.

They claimed that sitting for examinations under such conditions created additional physical and mental stress for many candidates. The protesters said that as long as flooding, waterlogging and unfavourable weather conditions persisted, examinations should have been postponed to ensure a fair environment for all students.

The students also raised concerns about the quality of examination papers, particularly alleging errors in the Physics First Paper question set. They demanded an investigation to identify those responsible for preparing faulty questions and called for appropriate action after a proper review.

The protesters clarified that they had no objection to challenging questions, but stressed that assessments should remain aligned with the official syllabus on which students had prepared. They said examination standards must be fair and consistent so that candidates are evaluated based on their actual preparation and understanding.

They also urged authorities to take a compassionate approach towards students who were unable to attend examinations on 13 July due to extreme weather conditions. The students demanded a quick, practical and acceptable solution for those affected.

The human chain reflected growing concerns among students over examination management, weather-related challenges and the need for more student-focused decision-making in the education system. The protesters said their movement was aimed at drawing attention to these issues and ensuring that future examinations are conducted in a safer and more supportive environment.