Students should not be forced to greet ministers on roadsides: Milon

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon has directed schools across Bangladesh not to make students stand on roadsides or in the sun to welcome visiting ministers or other dignitaries, stressing that such practices should end immediately.

The instruction came during a prize-giving ceremony held in Kachua upazila of Chandpur district as part of National Education Week celebrations. Speaking as the chief guest at the event, Milon said educational institutions must prioritise the well-being and comfort of students rather than organising ceremonial greetings that cause inconvenience.

The minister said he noticed students standing along the roadside to welcome him while he was travelling to the programme and expressed immediate dissatisfaction with the arrangement. He said students should never be asked to leave classrooms or stand outdoors for receptions when officials visit educational institutions.

Milon emphasised that he travels like any other citizen and does not require special greetings that involve students waiting under the sun. He added that teachers and school authorities should refrain from arranging roadside receptions for guests in the future.

He also urged teachers to ensure that students are not kept waiting unnecessarily and should be dismissed promptly so they can return home after school activities. Addressing the students directly, the minister reassured them that they would not have to stand on roads or outside their schools to greet him.

Instead, he said he would personally visit educational institutions to meet students during official programmes.

Local administration officials, teachers and political figures attended the ceremony. Among those present were Kachua Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mahmudul Hasan Russel, Officer-in-Charge of Kachua Police Station Borhan Uddin, and Kachua upazila BNP president Khairul Abedin Swapan, along with representatives from several government departments.

The minister’s remarks come amid broader discussions about student welfare and the role of schools in ensuring a supportive learning environment, particularly during official visits and public events.