HS examination on May 19: Several organisations call Barak Bandh on April 26 to protest

The Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) in its schedule of the Higher Secondary Board examination for 2021 has decided to conduct an exam on May 19, which created a huge backlash in the Barak Valley region. May 19 is a date of sentimental issue for the people of Barak Valley. On that fateful day of 1961, eleven martyrs laid down their lives to protect the culture and language of the Barak Valley. Every year, ‘Unishe May’ (19th of May) is celebrated as a Bhasha Shahid Divas throughout the three districts of the valley. To protest this decision of AHSEC, several political, as well as cultural organisations, have announced a 12-hour strike on April 26 all across the Barak Valley. This was announced today in a press meet called by the members of the protesting organisations.

The Barak Bandh is jointly called by the Barak Democratic Front (BDF), All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students’ Association (ACKHSA), SUCI, Rupam cultural organisation, Ganasur theatre group, Bhasha Shahid Station Smaran Samiti, Banga Sahitya Sammelan and Sammilito Sanskritik Sangstha. On behalf of the BDF, Pradip Dutta Roy said, “The decision to hold Bengali paper examination on May 19, which is a sentimental and important day for us people of the Barak, is not at all acceptable. This is the very day when 11 martyrs gave up their lives to protect our heritage and culture, and to hold an exam on that very day is really disappointing. Hence, we have come together to call a 12 hour Barak Bandh on April 26 to protest this decision of AHSEC and demand that the exam is held on a separate day. The strike will be effective from 5 am to 5 pm.” Pradip Dutta Roy said this in a press meet held at the Ellora Hotel in Silchar.

The press meet was attended by senior dignitaries of the valley such as Subrata Bhattacharjee, Dr. Rajib Kar, Hillol Dutta, Nikhil Paul, Gautam Prasad Dutta, among others. While talking to the press, they also said that apart from changing the date of the May 19 HS examination, they also demand separate High school and Higher Secondary boards for the people of Barak valley. “We also demand our government to provide the people of Barak with a separate high school and higher secondary education boards. Because, now and then, they come up with different notifications with little regards to the issues of our people in this region.”

In Assam, the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) administers primary education up to class 10 and AHSEC is responsible for the higher secondary 10+2 education. In the press meet, the protesting individuals and organisations have appealed to the people of Barak Valley to come together and make this strike a success so that their demands reach the higher authority of the state.