HSC students leave Secretariat area 'to prepare for next exams'

HSC students ended their demonstration in the Secretariat area around 5:50pm on Wednesday for what one protester said “the need to prepare for next day’s exams.”

After the students left, the police withdrew their barricades in the area, and vehicular movement returned to normal, said Rabbani Hossain, additional deputy commissioner of Ramna Zone under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

About an hour earlier, police allowed a team of six protesters to enter the Secretariat and place their demands before officials. The demands did not include the resignation of Education Minister Ehsanul Hoque Milon, although protesters outside the Parliament repeatedly called on him to quit.

There is still no outcome from the Secretariat meeting.

Meanwhile, after halting their street demonstration near the Secretariat, student protester, AKM Riyazul Islam, told reporters they were leaving the area to prepare for next day’s examinations.

However, they remain resolved to meet their demands, including the resignation of Education Minister Ehsanul Hoque Milon, he added.