Chhatra League Stood for the Govt, Chhatra Dal Stands for Students: Nasir

Nasir Uddin Nasir, the Central General Secretary of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, stated that while the "terrorists of the banned Chhatra League" consistently defended the previous Awami League government's decisions over the last 17 years, Chhatra Dal has chosen to stand with the student community, even if it means opposing the government.

The Chhatra Dal leader made the remarks on Tuesday (July 14) afternoon while speaking to protesting Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) candidates who gathered on the Dhaka University campus to demand the resignation of the education minister.

Addressing the demonstrating students, Nasir expressed solidarity with their core demands, saying:

"The demand for a temporary suspension of the examinations raised by the students is exactly what the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal has pushed for. We issued an official press release yesterday on this matter. Chhatra Dal will always align with the logical demands of the students."

Drawing a comparison to past student politics, the general secretary added:

"For the past 17 years, whenever the Awami League government made a decision, the terrorists of the banned Chhatra League actively defended it, regardless of the consequences. In contrast, Chhatra Dal has gone against the government's stance to speak for the student community. We have officially urged the authorities to reconsider the exam schedule. We understand that officials from various education boards, divisional commissioners, and key stakeholders held an emergency meeting yesterday, and we hope a favorable solution will emerge soon."

Addressing the complaints regarding technical discrepancies in the test papers, Nasir acknowledged the errors, calling them a technical failure. He noted that the education boards have assured a resolution, adding:

"No matter how complex the problem is, it can be resolved through active dialogue and mutual discussion. We remain firmly committed to standing alongside the students."

The statement comes amid widespread street demonstrations and blockades initiated by combined HSC candidates at around 11:45 AM today at the capital's Science Laboratory intersection. The students are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon, citing immense physical suffering during their travels to exam centers amid heavy rains and waterlogging. The protesters later marched onto the Dhaka University campus, raising slogans while Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was attending an event nearby. Similar demonstrations have been reported in other regions of the country.