300 suffer as exam centre 17km away from homes

As many as 317 candidates from four schools in Mohalchhari upazila are facing an untold suffering as they have been appearing in the ongoing SSC exams at a centre more than 17km away from their areas.
Of the candidates, 125 take the test from Maischhari High School, 36 from Ultachhari High School, 69 from Lamuchhari High School, and 87 from Boddha High School.
Candidates said they leave their houses by 7:00am to catch bus or jeep that takes almost three hours to reach the centre through a muddy and hilly road.
“Sometimes we have to travel on the roof of a jam-packed bus or jeep, risking our lives. We feel tried after the journey and cannot answer the questions properly,” some of the candidates told this correspondent during his visit to the lone exam centre in the upazila on Tuesday.
Shamita Chakma, an examinee from Maischhari High School, said she goes to the centre by bus or jeep on the exam day. “I feel exhausted and suffer from headache,” she added.
Adarshi Chakma, an examinee from Ultachhari High School, said she has to leave their house at least three and a half hours before the exam begins. “I miss the time for last-minute revision as I have to reach the bus stand by 6:45am,” she said.
Mongdhu Marma, father of an examinee of Maischhari High School, said as most of the guardians are poor, they cannot afford to rent houses at Mahalchhari upazila headquarters during the SSC examinations.
Sona Ratan Chakma, chairman of Mohalchhari Upazila Parishad, said an SSC examination centre in Maischhari area is needed to mitigate the sufferings of the candidates of the four schools. “I will request the authorities concerned to arrange an exam centre in the area”, the UZ chairman said.
Karunamoy Chakma, headmaster of Maischhari High School, said they wrote to the authorities concerned several times demanding an SSC exams centre in Maischhari area, but to no effect.