TL;DR:
- HSC candidates stormed Dhaka Education Board demanding re-evaluation of exam results, alleging discrimination and errors in grading
- Protests turned violent with students breaking into the premises, vandalizing property, and claiming they were attacked by authorities
- Similar demonstrations occurred in Chattogram, Cumilla, Jashore, and Mymensingh, with students questioning the fairness of exams across different boards
- Education authorities dismiss claims as baseless, suggesting failed students are responsible for the agitation, while facing pressure to ensure transparency in the evaluation process
Tensions escalated in Dhaka on Sunday as a group of Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) candidates forcibly entered the Dhaka Education Board premises, demanding a re-evaluation of their exam results. The protest, which began around 1:00 PM, quickly turned chaotic as students broke through the main gate and allegedly vandalized office property.
The demonstrators, operating under the banner “HSC Batch 2024,” claim that the recently published HSC results are “discriminatory” and contain errors in subject mapping and evaluation. “We will continue our demonstrations until our results are reassessed,” stated one of the protesters.
Several students reportedly sustained injuries during the incident, with protesters alleging they were attacked upon entering the board office. As of 4:00 PM, the students remained in the board’s courtyard, with police and military personnel on site to maintain order.
The unrest in Dhaka is not an isolated incident. Similar protests have erupted across Bangladesh, with students gathering in front of education boards in Chattogram, Cumilla, Jashore, and Mymensingh. In Jashore, hundreds of students protested on Saturday, claiming the board had issued “fake results” and questioning the fairness of the English exam.
Professor Morjina Akhter, chairman of the Jashore Education Board, dismissed the protesters’ claims as “unreasonable and baseless,” suggesting that “some students who failed in the examination have carried out the agitation program.”
The HSC results, released on October 15, have sparked widespread controversy. Students argue that the disparity in the number of exams conducted across different education boards – seven in Dhaka compared to only three in Sylhet – raises questions about equality in the examination process.
As the situation unfolds, education authorities face mounting pressure to address the students’ concerns and ensure transparency in the evaluation process. The protests highlight the need for a robust and fair examination system that can withstand scrutiny and maintain public trust.
Source: The Daily Star
