HSC examinees were not seen on the streets on Thursday morning, despite their previous announcement to return to the path of agitation to demand the resignation of Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon.
According to an ultimatum issued on Wednesday night, students were expected to take up positions in the capital’s Science Lab area from the morning, but no gathering of students was observed at the designated time.
For several consecutive days, a section of HSC examinees had been protesting, initially pressing a three-point demand, then a six-point, and finally a one-point demand on Wednesday.
They had previously held demonstrations and sit-in programmes in various areas, including Science Lab and Shahbagh, to demand solutions for various problems, including the examination schedule and evaluation methods.
On Wednesday, the protesting students announced that they would resume their positions on the streets from Thursday if the education minister did not resign by 10pm.
Following this announcement, law enforcement agencies were present in Science Lab area from Thursday morning, but the protesters failed to appear.
Vehicular movement remained normal at Science Lab intersection and surrounding areas from the morning until 2pm. No demonstrations, processions, or road blockades were observed during this period.
The six-point demand previously raised by the students included a reconsideration of matters related to the examinations and the alleviation of student suffering.
However, in the final stages of the movement, the demand for the education minister’s resignation became the primary focus.
The failure to implement the pre-announced programme has raised various questions regarding the future trajectory of the movement. Yet, no new programmes have been announced by the students.
