Students issue fresh ultimatum demanding minister's resignation, announce new protest
One of the protesters announcing the programme at Shahbagh intersection Wednesday evening — Photo: Agamir Somoy
Agitating students have issued a second ultimatum demanding the resignation of the education minister, setting a new deadline during a demonstration at Shahbagh intersection on Wednesday evening.
Speaking around 7:30pm, one of the protesters, Junaid, said education minister must resign by 10:00pm on Wednesday. If the demand is not met, students will enforce a blockade at Science Lab intersection from 12:00pm on Thursday before marching towards the Secretariat.
Following the announcement, the protesters dispersed from Shahbagh.
The students had blocked Shahbagh intersection from around 6:00pm on Wednesday evening to press home their three-point demand. Earlier in the day, they staged a road blockade at Science Lab for nearly half an hour before beginning a long march towards the Secretariat. They later held a sit-in for about two hours at the Shikkha Bhaban intersection before moving to Shahbagh.
Osman Gani, a student of Milestone College who took part in the protest, said the demonstrations had continued since Tuesday but none of their demands had been met.
He said the students first gathered at Science Lab before moving to the Education Building and later blocked Shahbagh intersection.
"We will not leave the streets until the education minister resigns. We have no representatives. We do not want to meet senior officials behind closed doors. They must come to the streets and speak with us. Otherwise, our movement will continue," he said.
The protesters' three demands are: postponing the HSC and equivalent examinations until the disaster situation has fully returned to normal; arranging a re-examination for students who were unable to sit for the July 13 exams due to adverse weather; and the resignation of Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon.
