HSC Candidates Assaulted Outside Bagerhat Government Women’s College

Two Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) candidates were subjected to a double-phase assault by a group of youths shortly after completing their examination in Bagerhat on Wednesday afternoon. The incident unfolded both inside the main gates and immediately outside the premises of Bagerhat Government Women’s College, sparking widespread security concerns amongst parents and local residents.

Despite the presence of two on-duty police officers assigned to secure the examination centre, the assailants managed to bypass security measures. The officers attempted to escort the victims to safety, but the attackers proceeded to beat the students indiscriminately in full view of the law enforcers. Police personnel eventually managed to restrain the attackers and defuse the situation, allowing the victims to escape further harm.

The victims have been identified as Shahriar Khan and Rafsan Amin, both business studies students from the prestigious Bagerhat Government PC College. According to the victims, the assault was led by Samir, a local leader of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal—the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party—accompanied by several of his associates. The victims claimed that the physical altercation was triggered by a prior verbal dispute on Facebook Messenger. However, local sources pointed out that tension had also been brewing due to several social media posts on Shahriar’s personal Facebook account supporting the political rehabilitation of the Awami League.

The incident, occurring within 200 yards of an active examination centre, has drawn sharp criticism from guardians. Mohibun Nahar, a mother whose son was sitting his exams at the same centre, expressed her deep anxiety. She questioned how such an audacious attack could occur in broad daylight with bystanders refusing to intervene, and raised concerns over the safety of other students sitting the ongoing examinations.

When questioned about the incident, the accused Chhatra Dal leader, Samir, denied any direct involvement of his organisation’s activists in the physical assault. He argued that Shahriar had been actively posting content online in favour of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which had provoked anger amongst his classmates, leading to an isolated dispute.

Dr AZM Ruhul Kadir, the Principal of Bagerhat Government Women’s College, confirmed the incident and stated that administrative steps are being taken. Since both the victims and the alleged attackers are enrolled at Bagerhat Government PC College, a photocopy of the accused student’s exam admit card has already been dispatched to the PC College principal for disciplinary action. Furthermore, closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the assault outside the college gates has been collected. Dr Kadir added that the local administration, including the District Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police, would be formally notified to ensure swift legal action against the perpetrators.