HSC examinees' protests intensify, demand Milon's resignation

Despite the government's decision to allow candidates affected by adverse weather to retake three Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations, protests intensified across the country on Wednesday, with demonstrators issuing an ultimatum to Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon to resign by 10:00pm or face a long march to the Secretariat on Thursday.

The demonstrations entered a second consecutive day as students blocked roads in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Barishal, Kushtia and Rangpur, disrupting traffic and demanding the minister's resignation over his alleged remarks about HSC candidates and the handling of this year's examinations.

In Dhaka, protesters occupied the Shahbagh intersection for about 90 minutes, bringing traffic to a standstill before withdrawing. Rahat Ahmed, an HSC candidate from Dhanmondi Ideal College, said the blockade was lifted to minimise public suffering but warned that students would begin a long march to the Secretariat from the Science Laboratory intersection at 10:00am on Thursday if the minister did not step down.

Earlier in the day, the minister told Parliament that 11,729 candidates who missed examinations because of adverse weather or other unavoidable circumstances would be allowed to retake the affected papers. He also said officials responsible for errors in the Physics First Paper question had been suspended and that candidates would receive full marks for questions six and seven to ensure no one was disadvantaged.

The announcement, however, failed to calm protesters. Students also demonstrated in the Science Laboratory and Uttara areas before marching towards Shikkha Bhaban, where they staged a sit-in in front of police barricades. Protesters alleged the minister had lost the moral authority to remain in office. Ikra Islam, a candidate from Shahajuddin Sarkar School and College, said a remark allegedly made by the minister comparing students to "farm chickens" had further fuelled public anger.

Outside the capital, HSC candidates blocked major roads in Chattogram, Rajshahi, Barishal and Kushtia, while a student delegation in Rangpur filed a complaint with Kotwali Police Station alleging that police assaulted peaceful protesters in Dhaka on Tuesday. Across the affected districts, prolonged road blockades disrupted traffic for hours and heightened pressure on the authorities.