Student protests rock Secretariat over exam chaos
Abu Jakir:
# Spread nationwide following deadly plane crash
# AL infiltration fears surround student movement
Police used tear gas, sound grenades, and batons to disperse protesting students outside the Secretariat in Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon, as public outrage continues to grow over the Education Ministry’s response to examinations in the aftermath of the recent plane crash in Uttara that left at least 31 people dead.
What began as a call for accountability quickly escalated into clashes with law enforcement, road blockades, and nationwide demonstrations. Concerns have also surfaced regarding possible political infiltration within the protest movement.
Tensions peaked around 4:30 p.m. when students demanding the resignation of Education Adviser Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar and Senior Secretary Siddique Zobair clashed with police.
Law enforcement officers fired tear gas and deployed sound grenades in an effort to clear the area. Protesters responded by throwing bricks and stones, prompting police to retreat briefly before regaining control.
Earlier in the afternoon, around 3:45 p.m., demonstrators entered the Secretariat compound and vandalised several parked vehicles. Security forces, including police and army personnel, removed the students and carried out a baton charge, pushing them towards Purana Paltan and Baitul Mukarram.
By 6:00 p.m., small groups of students had regrouped near the stadium area, continuing to chant slogans and renew calls for senior officials to step down.
Police confirmed that several individuals had been detained, but Shahbagh Police Officer-in-Charge Khaled Mansur stated that no formal arrests had been made. “The situation is now under control,” he said. “Traffic has resumed.”
The protests were triggered by a government announcement at 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday postponing Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent exams, following the fatal crash at Milestone School and College in Uttara. Students criticised the Education Ministry for what they described as a delayed and insensitive decision.
Demonstrations were reported across the country. In Chattogram, students blocked the busy Muradpur intersection from early afternoon, lying on roads and chanting slogans. Similar protests occurred on the Dhaka-Barishal Highway, where students in Barishal demanded transparency regarding casualties and clear lists of those injured or deceased. “Many families are still looking for their children,” said one student protester. “We need answers, not silence.”
In response to the backlash, the government has removed Senior Secretary Siddique Zobair from his position. Information and Broadcasting Adviser Mahfuz Alam confirmed the development via a Facebook post on Monday. However, student leaders dismissed the move as inadequate and reiterated demands for the resignation of Education Adviser Abrar.
As the protest movement grows, unverified reports have emerged on social media suggesting that individuals linked to the previously ruling Awami League (AL) and its now-banned student wing, Chhatra League, may be joining demonstrations to exploit the unrest.
Some commentators have warned that these groups may be attempting to destabilise the country following the recent tragedy. The Awami League government, led by Sheikh Hasina, was removed from power last year following a popular uprising led by students and civil society groups.
Since then, there have been accusations that remnants of the former regime are seeking to leverage national crises for political gain. “These groups are trying to hijack the student protests to regain influence,” wrote journalist Mehedi Momin in a widely shared Facebook post.
The unfolding demonstrations have placed students once again at the forefront of national discourse. Their demands include not only accountability from education officials but broader reforms to a system they feel does not reflect their needs.
“They expected us to take an exam just hours after a national tragedy,” said Raihan, an HSC candidate in Chattogram. “We are not machines. We are citizens. We deserve compassion and justice.”