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.
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 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.
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.
Local officials, military representatives, and political leaders attended the event, which was chaired by Barkal Upazila Executive Officer Atanu Barua.
