Students protest in various parts of the country, including the capital, on Tuesday against the authorities' decision to conduct Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams in adverse weather and the education minister's "derogatory" remarks. The photo was taken from Mirpur Road. — FE Photo HSC examinees staged widespread protests across Dhaka and some other districts over their demands including resignation of Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon.
The demonstrations were triggered by the authorities' decision to hold the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations on Monday despite severe waterlogging, coupled with allegations of a flawed and excessively difficult Physics question paper.
The protesters accused authorities of ignoring repeated calls for postponement of the examinations despite the inclement weather.
On Tuesday, at around 3:45 pm, the students blocked the Science Lab intersection for the second time. After blocking for more than an hour and a half, they left the Science Lab intersection and marched towards the Parliament at around 5:20 pm.
Protesting students left the Science Lab intersection in the capital and marched towards the National Parliament Building to realise their three-point demand including the resignation of the Education Minister.
The demands are: 1. The Education Minister must resign immediately by 6 pm on Tuesday and apologise for the inconsistent statements, 2. All students who participated in the exam on July 13 in an uncomfortable environment and those who did not - must retake the exam and 3. Wednesday's exam (July 15), must be postponed, a new exam routine must be published and the question paper must be student-friendly.
However, the education minister during Tuesday's parliamentary session expressed his regret over his remarks about the students.
Meanwhile, police used batons to disperse a group of Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinees who demonstrated in front of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Tuesday evening, calling for the resignation of the education minister.
The protesters gathered outside the parliament complex at around 6:30pm, witnesses said, adding that police repeatedly instructed them to vacate the area, but they remained at the site.
Tensions later escalated into a brief scuffle, after which law enforcers carried out a baton charge to clear the demonstrators.
In the wake of mounting public anger, the Education Minister urged the protesting students to leave the streets and return to their classrooms.
From Tuesday morning, students from several colleges gathered at Science Lab intersection in Dhaka. They blocked the intersection for about an hour, from around 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, disrupting traffic on the busy road.
After the blockade, one group of protesters staged in front of Dhaka College while another headed to the University of Dhaka.
Police dispersed the students in front of the university's VC Chattar at around 1:15 pm. The protesters later gathered on the road between Nilkhet and TSC for nearly an hour. Later they moved through Palashi intersection to the Dhaka Board office.
At around 2:45 pm, the students assembled in front of the Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board in Bakshibazar, where they demanded the education minister's resignation and chanted slogans, including "Fake, fake." Some protesters threw bricks at the board's gate and pushed against the entrance while law enforcement personnel remained deployed at the scene.
The demonstrators returned to Science Lab intersection at around 3:45 pm, blocking traffic once again and causing severe inconvenience to commuters and pedestrians.
Meanwhile, students from 12 to 15 educational institutions, including Dhaka City College, Dhaka Ideal College, Government Bangla College, Siddheswari Girls' College, Lalmatia School and College, Rajarbagh Police Lines School and College, and BAF Shaheen College, participated in the demonstrations.
During the protests, students chanted slogans such as, "One demand, one point, resignation of the education minister," "Who are you? Who are we? Farm chickens".
The protesters also alleged that the Physics examination paper contained errors and was excessively difficult. They claimed the common question paper used this year was significantly harder than in previous years.
A student from Dhaka City College said many candidates were unable to sit for the examination because of the adverse weather conditions, while others fell on flooded roads while travelling to examination centres. Some students' admit cards were reportedly damaged after getting soaked in rainwater.
"Will the education minister take responsibility for this?" the student asked.
"We do not want an education minister who cannot consider the well-being of students. We demand his resignation", he said.
The unrest was not confined to the capital. Students blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Uttara, the Dhaka-Barisal highway in Barisal, and the Mymensingh-Tangail highway. Protest rallies were also reported in Comilla and Bogra, where students issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding the resignation of the Education Minister and the removal of the Education Secretary.
While local administration and police officials confirmed that extra forces were deployed to maintain peace, student representatives declared that their street protests would continue alongside their scheduled exams until their demands are formally met.
sajibur@gmail.com and armanhossen7971@gmail.com
© 2026 - All Rights with The Financial Express
