Education Minister Apologises in Parliament Amid Nationwide HSC Protests

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haq Milan offered a formal apology in the National Parliament on Tuesday evening following widespread outrage over his recent remarks. Speaking during the budget session at half past seven, the minister sought to clarify his stance amidst intensifying street demonstrations by Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinees.

The minister addressed the controversy surrounding his personal commentary, which had recently triggered severe criticism across political circles and social media platforms. He stated that his remarks were not intended to cause malice or target anyone deliberately. He noted that since many had taken exception to his words, he was simply expressing his regrets to those who felt aggrieved.

Beyond his apology, the minister outlined the government’s strategy regarding the heavily disrupted academic calendar. Severe flooding and prolonged adverse weather forced the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee to postpone several examinations under the Chittagong Education Board. The minister confirmed that these postponed assessments would definitely be rescheduled. The ministry, he remarked, had been monitoring the situation closely despite the growing public anxiety.

The authorities have finalised a synchronised schedule for the affected regional board. The postponed examinations are set to be held concurrently with the scheduled Physics Second Paper, Logic, and Accounting exams, utilising an alternative set of question papers to ensure academic integrity. The affected papers under the Chittagong Board spans multiple dates in July, comprising ten distinct subjects:

• 8 July: English Second Paper

• 11 July: Information and Communication Technology

• 13 July: Physics First Paper, Accounting First Paper, and Logic First Paper

• 15 July: Physics Second Paper, Accounting Second Paper, and Logic Second Paper

• 16 July: Geography First Paper, Classical Music First Paper, Pali First Paper, and Arabic First Paper

The minister’s parliamentary address followed hours of escalating student unrest across Dhaka and other major districts. From Tuesday morning, HSC candidates blocked vital intersections, including Science Laboratory, Mirpur, and Uttara, causing massive traffic gridlocks across the capital. At around five o’clock in the afternoon, Md Miraj Hossain, a candidate from Dhaka City College, presented a three-point ultimatum on behalf of the agitators. The demands included the minister’s immediate resignation, a public apology for his inconsistent statements, a fairer standard of question papers, and a complete re-examination for those disadvantaged by the severe waterlogging on 13 July.

During the blockades, students chanted slogans directly mocking the minister’s alleged description of them as “farm chickens.” By a quarter past five, the demonstration turned into a march towards the National Parliament. Hundreds reached the main gates by six o’clock, staging a sit-in that prompted a firm response from law enforcement. Police personnel used batons to disperse the crowd outside the parliament complex. The retreating students subsequently gathered near the Dhanmondi Aarong outlet, where they allegedly hurled brickbats at the police, leading to a further chase by security forces before the area was cleared.