JCD Leader Abid Calls for Review of Decision to Hold HSC Exams

In light of the devastating flash floods, continuous torrential downpours, and severe urban waterlogging across the country, Md. Abidul Islam Khan, Joint General Secretary of the Dhaka University (DU) branch of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, has strongly urged authorities to reconsider the ongoing schedule of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations. The student leader made the statement on Monday (July 13) afternoon through a post on his official Facebook profile, emphasizing that the HSC is the most critical milestone in a student's life.

Abidul Islam Khan noted that public life has completely collapsed under the weight of relentless heavy rains and mountain runoff. Over one million people across at least seven districts—including Khagrachhari, Rangamati, Bandarban, Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Moulvibazar, and Habiganj—have been heavily impacted, with the death toll from floods and landslides already crossing 40. He added that while river water levels threaten to breach danger marks in Sylhet and Sunamganj, the capital city of Dhaka has also ground to a halt due to severe waterlogging. Despite these hazardous conditions, hundreds of thousands of examinees are being forced to sit for their papers.

He pointed out that while the authority was forced to suspend exams under the Chittagong Education Board and a similar recommendation emerged for the Sylhet Board, the remaining education boards are rigidly pushing through with pre-scheduled timelines. He highlighted that when simply reaching an examination hall in the capital has become a logistical nightmare, the growing demands from candidates and parents for a schedule revision cannot be ignored.

The Chhatra Dal leader stated that the outcome of this single public evaluation dictates a student’s higher education prospects, career path, and long-term future. He argued that forcing candidates to navigate flooded streets, get drenched in the rain, and take immense safety risks inevitably shatters their mental focus and compromises their overall academic performance.

He concluded by urging the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee to analyze the latest updates from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department and the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre before greenlighting upcoming dates. He emphasized that proper field-level coordination is crucial to ensure that different boards do not issue conflicting directives during the same national disaster, demanding that student safety and mental well-being be placed at the forefront of all administrative decisions.