HSC examinees storm into secretariat

Hundreds of exasperated Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinees stormed the Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday in a dramatic escalation of their demands for result publication through subject mapping without holding further examinations.

The protesters, undeterred by police barriers, breached the Secretariat's security perimeter around 2:00pm.

Once inside, they staged a demonstration between buildings 6 and 11, disrupting normal government operations. 

Their actions underscore the growing frustration among students over the ongoing uncertainty surrounding their academic futures.

The examinees, along with a rickshaw equipped with a public address system, forcefully entered the Bangladesh Secretariat. The protesters, demanding results through subject mapping based on previous exams and SSC scores, defied police and occupied the government complex.

Hasnat Abdullah, a leader of the anti-discrimination student movement, was seen trying to calm the agitated students.

The demonstrators, hailing from Dhaka College, Government Bangla College, Dhaka State College, and other institutions, vowed to stay put until their demands are met. They argue that additional exams will delay results and hinder preparations for university entrance exams.

Sijan Ahmed, a student from Government Tolaram College, emphasised the time constraints and the need for adequate preparation for entrance exams. 

Nabadwip Chowdhury, another protester, highlighted the physical and emotional toll of recent protests on students and the potential impact on their ability to take the rescheduled exams.