Highlights:
Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon today (14 July) defended the government's decision not to postpone HSC and equivalent examinations despite adverse weather conditions, saying the decision was taken after assessing the nationwide situation, consulting local administrations, and reviewing weather forecasts.
Speaking during the question-and-answer session in parliament, he said, "Reports from local government authorities indicated that examinations were being conducted smoothly across the country."
Responding to a supplementary question from Brahmanbaria-2 MP Rumeen Farhana, who asked why the examinations could not have been postponed by one or two days despite heavy rainfall and widespread disruption, Milon said the government had carefully evaluated the situation before proceeding.
Rumeen said students had requested a short postponement and later staged protests after the request was not accepted. She noted that HSC is a crucial examination that plays a significant role in determining students' futures and questioned why the government did not accommodate their demands, particularly for the physics examination.
In reply, Milon said nearly 2,700 examination centres were operating simultaneously across the country. "Examinations under the Chattogram education board, including those in Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachhari, had already been postponed because of flooding."
The minister further said the government remained in constant contact with all 64 district police superintendents, divisional commissioners, education board chairmen and upazila nirbahi officers, while also consulting meteorologists.
"Everyone concerned informed us that the situation would remain manageable. We waited until 5pm before taking the final decision to hold the examinations as scheduled," he added.
Milon also said local administrations had been given full authority to postpone or delay examinations if conditions warranted.
Referring to the situation at Cumilla Government Women's College, the minister said heavy rain had flooded the examination centre compound on the morning of the exam. "With assistance from the mayor, fire service, police, and district administration, candidates were transported by boat to the academic building."
"Many students' clothes became soaked, prompting authorities to arrange replacement clothing before the examination began one hour later. The examination time was extended accordingly," he told parliament.
Addressing complaints that two questions in the physics examination were outside the syllabus, the minister said question preparation and moderation had begun nearly two years ago under the previous administration, as the current government had assumed office only four months ago.
He informed that errors had been identified in questions 6 and 7 of the physics paper and assured parliament that all candidates would receive full marks for those two questions.
The minister's remarks came amid protests by HSC and equivalent examinees over the government's decision to continue examinations despite severe weather.
Students staged demonstrations in Dhaka, Bogura, Barishal, Chattogram, Cumilla, and Faridpur since this morning, demanding the minister's resignation within 24 hours, suspension of the examinations until weather conditions improve, and fresh examinations for candidates who missed the 13 July tests because of the weather.
Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon / HSC / adverse weeather
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