The Higher Secondary Certificate and equivalent examination results published on Saturday brought profound grief instead of celebration for the family of Minhajul Islam Rozan, a student who passed away before completing his final assessments. Rozan, an English version student at Bangladesh International School and College in Dhaka Cantonment, secured a Grade Point Average of 4.33 across his academic subjects, excluding biology. However, he was marked failed in biology solely because he could not participate in the practical examination due to his sudden illness.
Rozan fell critically ill on August 12 while the practical examinations were underway. Following his sudden collapse, he was placed on life support in a hospital, where he fought for his life for ten consecutive days before passing away under medical care. On Saturday, when the examination results were officially published, his father, Sajjadul Miraj, broke down in tears upon receiving his son's marksheet, which was sent by a school teacher. Miraj expressed deep anguish, noting that had his son been able to take the practical examinations, his academic standing would have been significantly higher, potentially reaching a GPA of 4.83 if he had secured the highest grade in biology.
Recalling the tragic sequence of events preceding his death, the grieving parents, Sajjadul Miraj and Fahmida Akhtar, revealed that they were entirely unaware their son was suffering from diabetes while coping with academic pressure. According to the family, when Rozan first fell ill on August 6, he was taken to multiple hospitals where various medical professionals attributed his condition to examination anxiety or panic attacks, while others suggested consulting a psychiatrist. The family alleged that critical diagnostic procedures, including blood sugar testing, were initially omitted, and he was treated merely with saline and sedatives.
It was not until August 13, while Rozan was languishing on life support in the intensive care unit at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka, that his blood glucose level surged to a dangerous 38 millimoles per liter, exposing his underlying diabetic condition to his stunned parents for the first time.
Beyond his academic pursuits, Rozan was remembered by his family and educators as an exemplary student who actively shouldered institutional responsibilities. He served as the class captain for five consecutive years from the eighth to the twelfth grade, earning the profound trust of his teachers and the deep affection of his peers through his gentle demeanor. In addition to his scholastic dedication, he was an active member of the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps.
