Bangladeshi Students Block Roads Over Exams Amid Severe Flooding

Dhaka and several other parts of Bangladesh have been hit by widespread student protests. Torrential monsoon rains and resultant severe waterlogging have failed to deter young demonstrators, who have taken to the streets to voice their anger over the government’s decision to press ahead with the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations under such hazardous conditions.

The capital city came to a virtual standstill as thousands of students blocked major thoroughfares, causing extensive traffic gridlock and disrupting daily life. Demonstrators expressed deep frustration over the authorities’ apparent disregard for their safety and accessibility. Navigating flooded streets to reach examination centres has proved an immense challenge, with many candidates reporting that they arrived soaked, occasionally with damaged registration documents and writing materials.

A key demand of the protesting students is the immediate resignation of the State Minister for Education, Anm Ehsanul Huq Milan. Activists argue that the ministry’s refusal to reschedule the critical examinations despite the clear environmental hazards demonstrates a lack of empathy and poor administrative foresight. Alongside the minister’s resignation, the students are calling for a temporary suspension of the exam schedule until the floodwaters recede and public transport services return to normal.

Dhaka’s notoriously fragile drainage system has struggled to cope with the relentless downpours, leaving key roads submerged under knee-deep water. For exam candidates, the lack of available transport has compounded the crisis. Many were forced to walk long distances through contaminated floodwater or pay exorbitant fares to rickshaw pullers just to make it to their halls on time.

While government officials have defended the decision to continue the academic schedule—citing the risk of prolonged session jams and the subsequent impact on university admissions—the disruption on the streets remains critical. As protests intensify and bring key transport routes to a halt, pressure continues to mount on the education ministry to address the students’ grievances.