Published: 11:57 PM, 14 July 2026
Govt may hold retake for flood-hit HSC examinees: Milon
Regrets 'farm chickens' remark
Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Tuesday said the government may arrange re-examinations if Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinees were unable to sit their exams due to flood or administrative shortcomings.
"These students are our future. Under no circumstances can we deprive them of their rights, and we will not do so," he said replying to a supplementary question from Jamaat-e-Islami MP Md Shafiqul Islam, elected from Patuakhali 2 in Parliament.
He said the Education Ministry has been maintaining continuous monitoring of examination centers across the country throughout the monsoon season.
The minister said whenever floodwater entered an examination centre, local administrations were instructed to shift the venue immediately to ensure that candidates could take their exams without disruption.
"So far, only one college, Cumilla Government College, has presented a significant challenge after its grounds were inundated," the minister said, adding that in a handful of other cases where water entered examination centers authorities promptly relocated the venues and ensured that students received the necessary facilities.
Milon said the government remains deeply concerned about the examinations and is determined to ensure that no student is deprived because of the natural disaster. He said if any student was unable to sit an examination due to administrative shortcomings after floodwater entered an educational institution, the government would review the matter and could arrange a re-examination if necessary.
"We have already adopted such a measure under the Chattogram Education Board and that option remains available," he told Parliament.
The minister urged students to return to their studies, assuring them that the government was even more concerned than they were about conducting the examinations properly despite the disaster.
He reiterated that provisions exist to hold re-examinations wherever mistakes or shortcomings prevented candidates from taking their tests.
Meanwhile, amid growing student protests, ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon has expressed regret in parliament over his "farm chickens" remark about HSC candidates.
Speaking during Tuesday's session, the minister addressed the controversy over his remarks.
"Many people have objected to my personal comment. I want to say that I did not say it targeting anyone. If anyone has been hurt by it, I simply express my regret."
