Sahidul Islam Nirab:

HSC candidates in the remote char (river island) areas of Kazipur upazila in Sirajganj district are facing serious trouble as they have to travel 15 to 20 kilometres path and cross rivers to sit for their exams.

Students, parents and locals on Thursday (April 24) formed a human chain on the Sarishabari-Kumariabari-Char Chhinna road demanding reopen of the HSC exam centre at M Monsur Ali National High School under Char Girish Union.

Without this centre, 681 students from Farhad Ali Memorial Degree College will have to travel to the upazila headquarters for exams — a trip that takes 4 to 5 hours. Locals say this journey is not only costly but also very stressful for students.

“My son’s exam starts at 10:00am. He has to leave home by 5 in the morning,” said one worried father. “How long can we continue like this?”

Students said. “We just want a little kindness from the authorities so we can take our exams closer to home,” said one student.

The college principal, Abul Kalam Azad, said, “If the centre is brought back to the previous place with the help of the administration, we can ensure fair and transparent exams. It will also ease the students’ stress.”

Right now, Natuarpara Degree College and Khashshuribera High School have been suggested as the exam centre and venue, but this is not final. Upazila Academic Supervisor Atikur Rahman said, they are waiting for the education board’s decision.

Kazipur UNO Dewan Akramul Haque said, “We know about the problem in char areas. But the final decision on the exam centre will come from the education board.”