United News of Bangladesh

Several HSC examinees allegedly vandalised an examination centre and clashed with authorities at a women's college in Char Fasson upazila of Bhola on Saturday after claiming the ICT examination was difficult and accusing invigilators of not providing assistance. Police fired several rounds of tear gas to disperse the agitating students after the incident at Fatema Matin Women's College, leaving at least five to seven people, including the governing body president and teachers, injured, according to college authorities. Mahiuddin Bacchu, acting principal of the college and acting officer of the examination centre management committee, said 884 students sat for the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) examination. He said that shortly after the exam ended around 1:15 pm, more than 200 examinees gathered at the college's main gate, chanted slogans and threw eggs inside the campus before breaking open two gates on the northwestern side. The students then entered the premises and vandalised windowpanes of the principal's office from the rear side of the building, creating panic among teachers and staff, he said. Police later brought the situation under control by firing tear gas shells. Local BNP leaders and activists also assisted the administration in restoring order, Bacchu said. He added that the answer scripts were later transported safely to the post office with the assistance of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO). Witnesses said many students became frustrated because the ICT question paper was difficult and they allegedly did not receive any assistance from invigilators during the examination. After the exam, they staged the protest, damaged two college gates and vandalised parts of the academic building. Officer-in-Charge of Char Fasson Police Station Farid Al Bhuiyan said police intervened after receiving information and brought the situation under control. "Legal action will be taken if a formal complaint is filed," he said. Char Fasson UNO Rumana Afroze said the students became agitated after finding the question paper difficult and alleging a lack of cooperation from teachers during the examination. "The students created an untoward situation after the exam.