Students of Barishal University’s History Department have expressed their discontent over a newly issued notice that imposes significant fines for missing midterm exams without valid justification. The notice, which surfaced on social media, has sparked widespread criticism among students.

On Tuesday (February 11), two notices signed by the Chairman of the History Department, Dr. Abdul Baten Chowdhury, were circulated online, leading to a wave of student reactions.

According to the notice, as per the decision of the 42nd meeting of the departmental academic committee (agenda item no. 08), students who fail to appear in the midterm exams must provide a valid reason along with supporting evidence. Those applying for a supplementary exam must pay a fine of BDT 1,000 if they apply within the first week after the exam concludes. If the application is submitted after the first week, the fine increases to BDT 2,000 per week.

Following the circulation of the notice, student activists voiced their opposition on social media. Sujoy Subh, a key organizer of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, criticized the decision in a post, drawing an analogy to butchers mistakenly entering the university. He condemned the decision as unfair and discriminatory.

In response to the backlash, Dr. Abdul Baten Chowdhury defended the policy, stating that the decision was made in the best interest of the students. He explained that some students deliberately miss midterm exams without valid reasons, causing disruptions in the academic schedule and disadvantaging other students.

The implementation of financial penalties for missing exams has sparked a heated debate regarding fairness and accessibility in academic policies. While the administration claims that the measure is meant to ensure discipline and academic integrity, students argue that it disproportionately affects those facing genuine difficulties. The controversy continues as students demand a revision of the policy.