Exams scheduled to take place in in Noakhali’s Hatiya Dwip Government College was postponed in for a BNP rally on Monday, causing strong resentment among students and guardians.
While authorities have said that the postponement was due to the political rally, the district returning officer and deputy commissioner have said that they were unaware of the matter.
According to sources, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman joined the rally virtually in the afternoon.
The half-yearly exam for the 11th grade and the selection exam for the 12th grade of Hatiya Dwip Government College for the year 2026 had been scheduled to take place on Monday. However, at the initiative of the candidate of the BNP’s Noakhali-6 (Hatiya) constituency, Tanbir Uddin Razib, the virtual meeting was organized on the college field.
Authorities subsequently postponed the exam and rescheduled it for Tuesday.
According to a first-year commerce student, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “Half an hour after our exam was held on the 25th, a teacher came and said that the exam of the 26th will be held on the 27th due to political reasons.”
A local guardian said, “If politics is for the people, then why is this arrangement disrupting the students’ academic life? The programme could have been held at an alternative venue instead of the college field. We want the students to be able to take their exams without any kind of disruption.”
When asked, acting principal of Hatiya Dwip Government College, Saiful Alam, said that one exam was indeed rescheduled but would did not disclose the reason for the change.
Faisal Bin Didar, an accounting teacher at the college, said, “When permission for the rally is given by the district administration due to political reasons, we postpone the exam. It is not possible to hold exams during a rally.”
Noakhali District Returning Officer and District Administrator Shafiqul Islam was unaware of the matter, as previously mentioned, stating he was not aware of any matter regarding permission for the rally or cancellation of the exam.
Meanwhile, another rally has been scheduled at the same field on 27 January at 10am for the National Citizen Party. According to an NCP leader, despite being aware of the scheduled rally, college authorities have rescheduled exams for the same day.
Local residents believe that if political rallies and exams are held at the same venue, it will be impossible for students to participate in the exams without disruption.
