Dhaka Correspondent:
The current government is in a completely uncompromising position to restore the quality of education and maintain a plagiarism-free environment with the aim of building a merit-based and strong nation nationally. Interior Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said this in a press briefing organized at the conference room of the Ministry of Interior on Wednesday afternoon.
Education standards and examination conditions
The minister said that the government is determined to ensure an orderly education system by getting out of the bad culture of ‘auto pass’ or giving random marks of the past. He also said that recently in some places there is fuel of a special circle behind the students’ movement to embarrass the government. He also pointed out that many of the agitators are not real students.
Regarding the weather and question paper errors, the minister clarified that the students who could not participate in the postponed examination of the Chittagong Education Board have been given another chance. Apart from this, the Ministry of Education has constituted an inquiry committee to look into the errors in the physics examination papers and the victims have been assured of providing reasonable marks. He dismissed allegations of police use of force on students as ‘disinformation’ or propaganda.
Extradition of fugitive accused
The Minister said about the progress of bringing back the fugitive accused abroad, a total of four accused have been arrested from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India based on Interpol’s red notice. Among them are the accused in the murder case of martyr Osman Sharif Hadi. He expressed hope that the legal process under the existing extradition treaty with India is ongoing and the accused will be brought back very soon.
List of martyrs of July-August uprising
Regarding the accurate statistics of the martyrs of the July-August student uprising, the Home Minister said that due to the disappearance of documents and missing bodies during the dictatorial regime, there was a challenge in determining the actual number. In addition to the UN report, the government’s own investigation estimates that the death toll may be more than 2,000. The list is currently being updated through DNA tests and mass grave searches. He said that gazettes of more than 15 thousand martyrs and injured have already been prepared and according to the condition of the injured, government assistance is being provided in three categories.
Local government elections
When asked about the schedule of the next local government elections, the minister said that the final date of the elections will be decided by next September-October through discussions with the Ministry of Local Government based on the weather conditions. He also commented that the government is vigilant in meeting the law and order situation and people’s expectations.