Treading carefully amid fears of a wider political crisis, the BNP government is taking a cautious approach as escalating student protests demand the resignation of Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon.
Concerns are mounting within the party and the government that the campaign could be exploited to trigger a wider political crisis for the five-month-old administration.
Several BNP leaders have warned Prime Minister Tarique Rahman that while the movement began over the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination controversy and the minister’s alleged “farm chicken” remark, the underlying objective of some groups involved may be to destabilise and bring down the government.
These anxieties are heavily influenced by memories of the July 2024 student movement, which began over quota reforms in government jobs but rapidly transformed into a mass uprising that ended the fifteen-and-a-half-year Awami League administration following a violent crackdown.
Government insiders said the current administration wants to remain flexible in handling the protests to ensure the education minister issue is not exploited as a platform for a wider political agenda.
Several BNP leaders and cabinet members confirmed that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held separate meetings with ministers and advisers on Tuesday to assess the situation. Alongside Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon, adviser Mahdi Amin and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj were summoned to the prime minister’s parliament office for discussions.
During these meetings, the prime minister was briefed about the protesters’ demands and activities, with leaders informing her that the movement had attracted groups demanding the government’s fall.
Given the sensitivity of the issue, senior BNP leaders declined to speak on record. TIMES of Bangladesh approached to four senior leader cabinet members, all of them requested anonymity.
A senior BNP leader told TIMES of Bangladesh that activists from Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizen Party (NCP), and the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League had joined the protests, noting that while this was not understood initially, it became clear as different groups aligned to demand both the minister’s resignation and a change in government.
Another senior leader warned that besides attempts to politicise the protests, the narrative is being manipulated through provocative social media posts and recycled videos. Simultaneously, non-student outsiders are reportedly trying to infiltrate the demonstrations to alter their course.
The controversy itself intensified after allegations arose that the education minister had referred to students as “farm chickens” and insisted on holding the HSC examinations despite heavy rain and severe waterlogging.
These incidents triggered protests in Dhaka and several district towns, emerging without any officially declared organisers and consisting mostly of young people wearing institutional identity cards.
A Facebook post circulating on Monday night called for a gathering at Science Laboratory in Dhaka, where an initial crowd of two hundred protesters grew to over four hundred.
Similar demonstrations took place outside education board offices in Chattogram, Cumilla, and Rajshahi, as well as in Bogura, Gaibandha, and Naogaon.
The situation escalated in Dhaka when some protesters attempted to march towards the Parliament Building, leading to a police dispersal using force, which drew criticism and sparked intense debate across the country.
Following these briefings, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman instructed the education minister to apologise, and the minister subsequently expressed his regret in parliament. Since the BNP government took the oath of office on 17 February, public dissatisfaction has grown among students and parents over education policies, examination schedules, and administrative decisions, with the premature scheduling of exams drawing particular criticism.
A BNP leader acknowledged that the minister’s remark was entirely inappropriate and should have been addressed much earlier.
Meanwhile, although the government has not yet initiated formal talks with the protesting students, party insiders say the situation is being closely monitored and dialogue remains an option if necessary.
Furthermore, internal rivalries have surfaced, with reports that some BNP leaders are keen to take over the education ministry and are actively highlighting the minister’s mistakes to position themselves for the portfolio.
