The Bangladesh Students’ Union has held a protest rally with three-point demands, including guaranteeing a minimum allocation of 6 percent of GDP for the education sector. The leaders of the organization demanded to increase the allocation in the education sector, cancel the decision of admission test in primary schools and formulate a non-discriminatory education policy. At that time, they also warned to continue the agitation in the streets if the government neglected to implement the demands.
The organization made this demand from the rally organized at the foot of the Raju sculpture on Saturday afternoon. After the rally, a protest procession went from Raju Sculpture to Shamsun Nahar Hall area and ended at Raju Sculpture.
Speakers in the gathering said that by ensuring the allocation of 6 percent of the government’s promised GDP to the education sector, it should be increased to 8 percent in stages. At the same time, they demanded to cancel the admission test system in primary schools and conduct the admission program in the international zonal system.
Students Union President Mahir Shahriar Reza said that Bangladesh is in the second lowest position in terms of allocation in the education sector in South Asia. According to the commitment given in the UNESCO conference, 6 percent of the GDP should be allocated to the education sector.
Mahir Shahriar also said, ‘Multi-divided education system is creating disparity. A similar, non-discriminatory, science-based, non-sectarian and universal education policy should be formulated. Apart from this, the speakers also demanded to reinstate the decision to appoint physical education and music teachers at the initial stage.
The assembly was presided over by Mahir Shahriar Reza, president of the students’ union, and Bahauddin Shubo, general secretary, moderated. Central Parliament Vice President Salman Rahat, School Student Affairs Secretary Rakibul Hasan Sujan and member Prashant Kairi spoke in it.
