Protesting HSC examinees on Tuesday warned they would lay siege to the Ministry of Education after Wednesday's examination if it was not postponed, and vowed to announce tougher protest programmes. They also reiterated their demand for the education minister's resignation.
The announcement came around 9:30pm in front of the National Parliament, where City College examinee Md Miraj Hossain spoke on behalf of the protesters before declaring an end to the day's programme.
"We expect the government to postpone Wednesday's examination by tonight," he said.
Replying to a question, Miraj said the students remained firm on their demand for the education minister's resignation.
"If our demands are not met, we will besiege the Ministry of Education after tomorrow's examination and announce tougher programmes from there," he said.
Earlier in the evening, students staged a sit-in outside the National Parliament demanding the minister's resignation.
Tensions escalated when they tried to march toward the parliament complex, prompting police to disperse them with baton charges. The protesters later regrouped in front of Aarong, where police again chased them away. After 8pm, the students returned and occupied the road in front of the National Parliament, temporarily disrupting traffic.
Earlier, protesters marched from Science Laboratory to the parliament area. Throughout the day, they staged road blockades, rallies and human chains at different points in the capital, protesting the decision to hold HSC examinations despite inclement weather, the examination schedule, alleged errors in the Physics question paper, and the education minister's reported "farm chicken" remark about students.
Tejgaon Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Ibne Mizan later said no students remained on the road and the situation had returned to normal.
