Rangamati, April 25, 2026 — Dipen Dewan has pledged that no deserving student should lose the opportunity to sit for examinations because of financial hardship, after personally intervening to support a remote-area SSC candidate in Barkal upazila of Rangamati.
During a visit to the remote upazila on Friday, the minister announced that the government would cover all educational expenses for Ishika Chakma, a talented student from Juno Pahar High School, whose family had reportedly been unable to arrange just Tk 7,000 needed for her Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination.
Minister Calls Financial Barriers a "Matter of Shame"
Speaking at a meeting at the Barkal উপজেলা Administration Auditorium, the minister said it would be "a matter of shame" if a meritorious student were prevented from taking an exam due to lack of money. He added that the government remains committed to ensuring that no student in Bangladesh drops out because of poverty.
The Secondary School Certificate examination is a critical public exam in Bangladesh, typically taken at the end of class ten. It serves as a gateway to higher secondary education, meaning that students who miss the exam are effectively cut off from continuing their academic path. In remote and economically disadvantaged areas like the Chittagong Hill Tracts, even modest fees can become insurmountable obstacles for families.
Special Allocation for Remote Upazilas
The minister also announced a special allocation of Tk 1 million through the Rangamati Hill District Council to support students in the remote upazilas of Barkal, Juraichhari, and Bilaichhari, aiming to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The three upazilas named are among the most difficult-to-reach areas in the Rangamati Hill District, where infrastructure limitations and geographic isolation have long posed challenges for residents. By routing the funds through the Hill District Council, the initiative ties into the existing local governance structure designed to address the specific needs of the region's communities.
Broader Commitments to Connectivity and Infrastructure
Addressing students, Dewan encouraged them to continue their education with confidence, saying the government stands beside them. He also promised quick action to improve mobile network connectivity in Barkal and to begin dredging work in Kaptai Lake to restore navigability in the region.
Mobile network coverage remains uneven in parts of the Hill Tracts, limiting access to online educational resources and communication. Separately, Kaptai Lake — a vast man-made waterbody and a vital transport route in the region — has faced declining navigability due to sedimentation, affecting the movement of people and goods across communities that depend heavily on water transport.
Local officials, military representatives, and political leaders attended the event, which was chaired by Barkal Upazila Executive Officer Atanu Barua.
