HSC candidates rally outside parliament, demand minister’s resignation

Road blockades by candidates spread across Dhaka, while a separate protest in Uttara trigger severe congestion on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway

Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) candidates have carried their protest to parliament, marching from Science Lab to Manik Mia Avenue to press for the education minister's resignation.

Around 6pm on Tuesday, they crossed police barricades and reached outside the parliament building.

The protesters occupied both carriageways of Manik Mia Avenue, halting traffic between Asad Gate and Khamarbari in both directions.

The demonstrations began around 11:45am at the Science Lab intersection over the decision to hold HSC and equivalent examinations despite severe weather and in protest at alleged derogatory remarks by the education minister.

The students later marched towards the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka.

Police stopped them near Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall of Dhaka University around 12:45pm, but they resumed the procession via Palashi at around 1:45pm.

They staged a sit-in outside the education board from 2:30pm to 3:30pm before returning to Science Lab to resume the road blockade.

A separate blockade outside Uttara's BNS Tower, which began at 11:45am, continued into the evening, causing severe congestion on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway.

Gulshan traffic police officers said at 6:10pm that demonstrators had cleared the road at ECB Square.

Protesters said examinations were held on Monday despite flooding and hazardous weather, forcing candidates to battle waterlogging, gridlock and disrupted transport.

They also expressed anger over a phone conversation in which the education minister allegedly referred to HSC candidates as “farm chickens”, shouting slogans demanding the minister's resignation.