A Few Days' Delay Would Have Made No Difference

Prime Minister's Adviser and BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed has expressed solidarity with the demand to postpone the ongoing Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations.

He made the remarks Tuesday afternoon while distributing relief among flood victims in Baharchhara village of Banshkhali upazila in Chattogram.

Students staged road blockades, protests, and rallies in Dhaka and other parts of the country on Monday to protest the government's decision to hold HSC examinations despite persistent rain and widespread waterlogging. They also demanded the resignation of Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon.

Questioning the rationale for holding the exams during the floods, Rizvi said, "The intermediate examinations are underway. We ourselves had to wade through floodwaters to reach this village today. What harm would a few days' delay in the examinations have done?"

"Students have fallen into floodwaters while trying to reach schools and colleges for their exams. A young student may not even be able to reach the examination center because of the flooding. If someone drowns on the way to take an exam, it would be a deeply tragic incident," he said.

He voiced support for the public demand to postpone the examinations. "I urge the education minister to pay attention to this severe public suffering. Please postpone the examinations for a few days. Let the floodwaters recede. The exams can then be held," he said.

Rizvi also urged flood victims to remain patient. "The prime minister has instructed the administration, and the government is taking the highest possible measures. Various political parties are also playing an appropriate role by bringing relief and standing beside you. I urge everyone to remain patient during this difficult time. Homes will be rebuilt. Livestock will return to your barns. Life will become normal again," he said.

Rizvi distributed relief alongside State Minister for Land and Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, Chattogram District Police Superintendent Masud Alam, other administration officials, and party leaders and activists. Before visiting Banshkhali, the delegation inspected flood-affected areas and distributed relief among affected families in Toilardwip of Anwara upazila.

Speaking to reporters in Anwara, Rizvi blamed the Awami League government's unplanned development projects for the severity of the flooding. "The Rampal Power Plant was built near the Sundarbans despite objections from environmentalists to please certain interests. As a result, the Sundarbans now face serious threats due to deforestation and other factors. Under the guise of development, thousands of crores of taka were siphoned abroad. The environment was put at risk, and the public was exposed to greater danger," he said.

He also said a road had been built across the haor to provide access to the home of former President Abdul Hamid. "That project damaged the area's natural environment and biodiversity. It also destroyed the habitats of various fish species," Rizvi said.

Responding to reporters' questions, State Minister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin said waterlogging has worsened in Chattogram and other parts of the country because of canal encroachment, illegal structures, and privately built culverts. "The prime minister has instructed authorities to take action against encroachers, regardless of who they are," he said.