15 suffer panic attacks in exam hall; parents assault teachers

At least 15 female students felt ill due to panic attacks during the annual final examination, and enraged parents stormed into the school office and assaulted teachers at Dr Firoza Pilot Girls High School and College of Chandina in Cumilla today (8 December).

The injured teachers are acting principal Sadekul Islam Kiran, Bengali department teacher Abu Yunus, accounting department teacher Saidur Rahman Sujan, and religion department teacher Md Ilyas. The parents attacked them with punches, kicks, and sticks, tearing their clothes.

In the morning shift, a female eighth-grade student felt ill during a mathematics examination, and the teachers and her classmates moved the student to a separate room, providing water and rest.

Shortly after, 14 other students in the same room exhibited similar symptoms and were sent to Chandina Upazila Health Complex. After primary treatment, 11 students were sent home, while 4 were admitted to the health complex for further observation.

When the second shift of the examination began at 2pm, over 15 to 20 parents entered the school and attacked the teachers. They also spread rumours of a student's death, forcing students to leave the examination halls.

Later, police from Chandina Police Station went to the spot, brought the situation under control, and detained one man for questioning.

The acting principal of the educational institution said that doctors confirmed the students had experienced panic attacks.

Dr Arifur Rahman, upazila health and family planning officer, said that the panic attack was not a severe issue, and 11 students were discharged after primary treatment, while 4 remain under observation.

Md Nazmul Huda, officer-in-charge of Chandina Police Station, said that the parents attacked the teachers, but the situation is now under control.

Police detained one person in this connection, and action will be taken upon receiving a formal complaint, he added.