Prof Tapan Kumar Sarker, chairman of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka, has announced his resignation in response to ongoing protests by a group of students who failed to clear their HSC examinations, demanding a reevaluation of their results, according to media reports.
The protests stem from the mapping of all SSC subjects in evaluating 2024's HSC results.
Tapan said he will submit his resignation letter to the Ministry of Education on Monday, adding that he also plans to forward the students' demands to the ministry.
Media reports say he confirmed his decision and said he has communicated this to the protesting students who occupied the board premises.
The protests began around noon on Sunday, with students entering the board campus to demonstrate.
They reported facing violence during the protests, which resulted in injuries to several students.
Meanwhile, board officials claimed that some students vandalized the chairman's office.
The HSC examinations commenced on June 30, but protests over government job quota reforms led to the postponement of several exams.
Following these disruptions, students demanded the cancellation of postponed exams, ultimately leading to their cancellation.
The results of the HSC and equivalent examinations were published on October 15, using a different evaluation method due to the cancellation of some subjects.
Students' SSC scores were used in a process known as subject mapping to assess their HSC results.
Students argued that the results are discriminatory and called for a reevaluation based on all SSC subjects.
They expressed their grievances by marching under the banner "HSC Batch 2024" and included both successful and unsuccessful candidates in their protests.
Witnesses said students broke into the board premises and moved inside the building, claiming they were attacked and demanding justice for the alleged violence.
Board officials said that students vandalized the chairman's office, and documents were scattered across the floor. This unrest caused disruptions for individuals seeking various services, including certificates and mark sheets.
In light of the turmoil, Prof Tapan addressed the protesting students, announcing his resignation.
Following his resignation announcement, students remained at the board well into the evening, continuing their demonstrations.
Chawkbazar police station Officer-in-Charge Rezaul Hossain said the students have alleged discrimination in the results.
"They were staging a protest in front of the board and eventually broke into the premises."
Board employees tried to prevent the students from entering to protect documents and other materials. The OC said he heard that several students were injured during the scuffle.
