United News of Bangladesh

Home Affairs Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Thursday said a vested quarter is attempting to exploit the ongoing protests of students to embarrass the government. "There are certainly some groups that want to embarrass the government. They are trying to exploit various issues by concealing their identities and fishing in troubled waters. That has become evident. It has also been seen that many of those taking part in the protests are, in fact, neither students nor examination candidates," said the minister He came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after attending an award and recognition ceremony for police personnel at the Secretariat. The minister said the Ministry of Education has already clarified its position. Candidates unable to sit for examinations due to inclement weather conditions would be given another opportunity, while students absent from the postponed Chattogram Education Board examinations would be allowed to take the tests using the same question papers once the examinations are rescheduled, he said. Besides an investigation committee has been formed over two erroneous questions in Physics examination paper and candidates would receive marks for those questions, he said. He also said that the Education Minister has expressed regret in Parliament. Asked if he had any message for the protesting students, Salahuddin said the government is not attaching much importance to the demonstrations as the number of protesters remained small in a few districts and outside Dhaka. A culture of entering the Secretariat to demand examination postponements or promotion without examinations emerged during the tenure of the interim government, but the current government would not take any decision that undermines the quality of education, he said. The government remained committed to holding examinations in a malpractice-free environment and restoring standards in the education sector, he said. He also blamed previous practices such as auto-promotion, awarding additional marks and widespread GPA-5 results for weakening educational standards. Referring to the efforts bring back former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said Bangladesh has sent the documents sought by India and an Interpol Red Notice has also been issued. “The government wants to bring her back under the Bangladesh-India extradition treaty to face trial. If returned, she would be arrested as a convicted person in accordance with the law before further legal proceedings,” he said. Regarding fugitives staying abroad, Salahuddin said legal procedures have been completed to bring back three accused from India and one from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Interpol Red Notices have been issued and the required documents were sent to the respective authorities. He expressed hope of receiving a positive response from the UAE authorities soon. Responding to a question about flags bearing the Islamic declaration of faith (Kalema), the minister said some individuals are trying to exploit religious sentiments for their own purposes. He also claimed that there are no militant groups operating in the country. On the number of those recognised as July martyrs, he said the official gazette of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs currently included more than 800 names. The number could increase based on DNA testing and new evidence. Cases filed on the basis of false information or by fake complainants would be reviewed and corrected, he said adding investigations would also seek to exclude innocent individuals from charge sheets.

The students have taken to the streets halting buses to press for their demand of half fare. The public transport owners are refusing to cut the fare half for students. The standoff has plunged the city’s public transportation into further chaos causing huge sufferings to the commuters. The government on November 3 raised the prices of diesel and kerosene by Tk 15 per litre Shortly after this the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) increased the fares for intra-city and inter-district buses by 26.5% and 27% respectively following an indefinite strike by transport owners on November 7. Read SSC examinee death: 300 booked for torching 8 buses in city However, complaints have been in plenty that the transport workers are charging the passengers beyond this fixed rate. Moreover, passenger who protested this anarchy suffered harassment by transport workers, even a rape threat to a female student. On November 20, a 2nd year student of Badrunnesa College wanted to pay half bus fare and an assistant of a driver of a bus of ‘Thikana Paribahan’ threatened to rape her. Read: Students block Rampura road protesting SSC examinee’s death in road crash Such a situation has occurred as there is a lack of coordination in the monitoring system. Besides, the transport workers are picking up or dropping off passengers at any place of their choice instead of designated bus stop. Passengers are spending a lot of money and time due to the chaotic movement of public transport in the capital. Read Students take to streets again with 11-point demand