Students protests new grading system in Dhaka

Students of some colleges of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh ( Dhaka College, Titumir College, Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul College and Mirpur Bangla College) converged in front of Dhaka College road at around 11:30am. They took to the streets in front of Dhaka College to register their protest against a government decision on  grading system. The GPA system was introduced in 2001. GPA-2 was set equal to second division (45 percent marks) and GPA-3 equal to first division (60 percent marks). The demonstrators were successful candidates of SSC and HSC between 2001 and 2004. They said the gazette changed the equalisation of grading system and division system of their time. But the government gazette published on June 2 said the below GPA-3 would be estimated as third division and below GPA-4 as second division for the students who passed SSC and HSC examinations after 2004. For students who passed SSC and HSC between 2001 and 2003, below GPA-2.5 would be counted as third division and less than 3.5 as second division. They said the recent gazette notification issued by the education ministry reversed a previous decision of grading system. It means students whose GPA was earlier counted as second division would now be counted as third division after the publication of the new gazzette. They demanded withdrawal of the new gazette.

The demonstrations created heavy traffic gridlocks on main city streets as traffic movement on adjoining Shahbagh, Elephant Road, Science Laboratory and Dhanmondi roads was suspended for around two and a half hours. The students engaged in clashes with police, throwing brickbats, forcing the law enforcers to fire tear gas. The demonstrators also damaged a number of vehicles at around 1:30pm and took shelter inside Dhaka College premises when chased by police.