Students taking Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams blocked the road in front of the BNS Center in Dhaka's Uttara today (15 July), a day after staging similar demonstrations in different districts over their three demands, including the education minister's resignation.
The demonstrators gathered there at around 1:30pm after having announced the protest on social media.
They blocked the road, bringing traffic on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway to a standstill in both directions, with vehicles heading towards central Dhaka and Gazipur unable to pass.
The protest follows yesterday's demonstrations, when HSC candidates blocked roads at the Science Laboratory intersection and in Uttara, demanding Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon's resignation, suspension of examinations until weather conditions improve and fresh examinations for candidates who missed tests due to flooding and heavy rain.
Similar protests were also held in Chattogram, Bogura, Barishal and other areas.
While speaking in parliament yesterday, the minister urged HSC examinees to end their protests and return to their studies, assuring them that no student would be disadvantaged by disruptions caused by floods, natural disasters or administrative shortcomings.
Speaking during the question-and-answer session, the minister said the government was closely monitoring the situation and would take all necessary measures to protect students' interests.
The government was more concerned than they are about ensuring the examinations were conducted smoothly and addressing the ongoing disaster situation, he said.
The minister added that students who had been unable to sit for their examinations because of flooding, other natural disasters or administrative failures would be given another opportunity to take the exams if necessary.
"If any student is deprived due to floods, natural disasters or administrative shortcomings, we will certainly arrange another examination for them if needed," he said.
