At present, Dhaka is waterlogged, roads are submerged, and entire neighbourhoods are struggling to stay functional. Yet in the middle of this chaos, that HSC examinees are expected to sit for one of the most consequential exams of their lives is nothing if not unfair.
As such, the students’ demand for postponement of these exams is far from being unreasonable and is, instead, nothing but common sense.
When students block roads, it is easy for authorities to dismiss it as disruption. However, the authorities must recognize that it is the waterlogging and flooding that is causing the disruption. Many examinees cannot reach centres, while some have possessions to the waters.
There are many areas in the city where families are juggling evacuation, illness, and financial strain. Under these conditions, expecting students to perform at their best is not just unrealistic but simply unfair.
Education cannot exist in isolation from reality. If the city is under water, if transport is crippled, if homes are flooded, then exams cannot proceed as if everything is normal.
The authorities must therefore listen. The students are not asking for special treatment; they are asking for a level playing field.
Our education system has long struggled with rigidity, with fixed schedules, inflexible policies, and a reluctance to adapt to crises. Yet, we must learn to accept climate‑driven disruptions as a part of our reality.
We must reiterate that the students’ demands are not unreasonable. What is unreasonable is expecting excellence from young people while the city around them is drowning.
Listening to them is responsible governance, of recognizing the situation for what it is, and acting for the betterment of the people. We hope that the authorities see reason, and act accordingly.
