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Published : 15 Jul 2026, 02:51 PM
Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinees have blocked a major road in Dhaka’s Uttara as part of their previously announced "Long march to the Ministry of Education" programme.
After finishing Wednesday's examination, around 1:30pm, the students took to the street in front of the BNS Center on the Dhaka–Mymensingh Highway, bringing traffic to a standstill.
The protesters have blocked all four lanes of the highway, completely halting traffic movement.
Among those present were students from RAJUK Uttara Model College, Nawab Habibullah College, and Uttara High School.
One student from Nawab Habibullah College said, "We are standing up for our rights. We demand the resignation of the education minister. We will continue our long march."
Zisanul Haque, additional deputy commissioner of the Airport Zone under the Uttara Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, confirmed the students' sit-in programme near the BNS Center.
He told bdnews24.com, "The students are chanting slogans regarding multiple demands."
The protesting students were seen chanting slogans including, "Who are you? Who am I ? Broiler, broiler! Who said it? The education minister!" and "One-point demand, one demand only — resignation of the education minister”.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anisur Rahman said, "The road in the area has been blocked after students took to the streets. Traffic has come to a halt in both directions in front of the Uttara BNS Tower."
"We are trying to convince the students as more of them are arriving from different directions after their examinations ended," Police Commissioner Mosleuddin said.
The movement demanding the postponement of the HSC and equivalent examinations saw dramatic developments throughout Tuesday.
Students blocked roads in different parts of the country, scuffled with police, and raised demands for the resignation of the education minister, but no resolution was reached.
Rejecting the protesters' demands, the government said examinations would continue across the country except in the flood-affected districts under the Chattogram education board.
The protesters, meanwhile, had warned that if Wednesday's examinations were not postponed, they would march towards the Secretariat.
As a result, on Wednesday, students under the country's nine general education boards, excluding Chattogram, sat for the HSC second papers of Physics, Accounting and Logic.
On the same day, Alim candidates under the Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board sat for the Arabic Second Paper examination in all districts except the five in Chattogram Division.
The Technical Education Board also held HSC (BM) examinations in Business Organisation and Management I and II, Higher Mathematics I and II for vocational students, and Higher Accounting for Diploma in Commerce candidates.
Because of adverse weather and flooding, HSC and equivalent examinations under the Chattogram Education Board have remained suspended in the division's districts since Jul 8 and will remain so through Thursday.
Following heavy rainfall and waterlogging in different parts of the country on Sunday, students demanded the postponement of Monday's HSC first papers of Physics, Accounting and Logic.
The education boards, however, announced that examinations would proceed everywhere except in the Chattogram Board area.
Heavy rainfall continued until Monday afternoon, and candidates in several districts reported difficulties reaching examination centres because of waterlogging.
On the same day, examinees also encountered two erroneous questions in the Physics First Paper examination.
Anger among the protesting students intensified on Monday night after an audio recording circulated on social media.
In the recording, Education Minister Milon was heard referring to HSC candidates as "farm chickens" during a conversation with a woman.
Against that backdrop, students began demonstrations on Tuesday morning by blocking roads in Dhaka, Cumilla, Chattogram, Mymensingh, Kurigram, Tangail, Jhalakathi, Joypurhat, Barishal, Faridpur and several other districts, demanding the resignation of the education minister, postponement of the examinations, and another opportunity for candidates who had been unable to sit Monday's tests.
Later that afternoon, while addressing parliament, Minister Milon expressed regret over his remarks comparing examinees to farm chickens.
Responding to complaints from students who had faced difficulties taking the examinations, he also announced that the HSC examinations in Physics, Accounting and Logic would be held again.
