Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) Central General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir on Tuesday urged the government to engage in dialogue with protesting HSC examinees, saying there is still room to reconsider its decision while opposing road blockades as a means of protest.
Speaking to reporters after meeting protesting students at Dhaka University's VC Chattar, Nasir said JCD also supports temporarily suspending the ongoing HSC and equivalent examinations due to the worsening flood situation in several parts of the country.
"The flood situation has deteriorated in different parts of the country, which is why the government postponed examinations under the Chattogram Education Board. Besides that, heavy rainfall has affected several northern districts, forcing students to endure significant hardship to sit for the examinations. We are aware of that, and JCD has also demanded a temporary suspension of the examinations," he said.
Nasir said JCD, unlike the former Awami League government's student wing, had openly urged the current government to reconsider its decision.
"We have learned that the government is discussing the matter. Yesterday, discussions were held with education board chairmen, divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners. I believe a solution will be found," he said.
Referring to complaints that one of the examination papers was unusually difficult, Nasir said the matter could be addressed through discussions with the authorities.
"The students have said one question paper was difficult. We told them that if they want to discuss such technical issues, they can nominate representatives, and we will take them to the Education Ministry," he said.
Asked whether the Education Minister bore responsibility as the guardian of students, Nasir said decisions on public examinations are made collectively.
"The government does not make such decisions alone. It consults education board chairmen, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, upazila nirbahi officers, police and other stakeholders before reaching a decision. Every decision may have both strengths and weaknesses," he said.
Reiterating JCD's position, Nasir said road blockades would not help resolve the issue.
"I believe there is room for dialogue. The government still has the opportunity to reconsider its decision, which is why we issued a press release. This issue should be resolved through discussion, not by blocking roads," he said.
He also assured the students of JCD's support.
"We are with the students. If they have demands and want to meet the authorities, we will accompany them," he said.
Earlier in the day, around 12:30pm, a group of HSC examinees marched toward the Education Ministry, demanding the resignation of Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon and pressing a three-point demand over the hardships caused by holding examinations amid floods and waterlogging.
Police stopped the procession near Dhaka University's VC Chattar, triggering brief scuffles between protesters and law enforcement personnel.
The protest coincided with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's participation in a program titled "Youth, Startups and the Bangladesh of Possibilities" at the Nawab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building on the Dhaka University campus.
A large security deployment was in place around the venue, and law enforcement later brought the situation under control before the protesters dispersed.
However, as of filing this report, the students had regrouped and blocked the Science Laboratory intersection in the capital.