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A. N. M. Ehsanul Hoque Milan

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Ehsanul Hoque Milan
এহসানুল হক মিলন
Milan in 2026
Minister of Education
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 February 2026
Prime MinisterTarique Rahman
Preceded byChowdhury Rafiqul Abrar
Minister of Primary and Mass Education
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 February 2026
Prime MinisterTarique Rahman
Preceded byBidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar
Member of Parliament
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 February 2026
Preceded byMuhiuddin Khan Alamgir
ConstituencyChandpur-1
In office
23 June 1996 – 29 October 2006
Preceded byMesbah Uddin Khan
Succeeded byMuhiuddin Khan Alamgir
ConstituencyChandpur-1
Minister of State for Education
In office
10 October 2001 – 29 October 2006
Prime MinisterKhaleda Zia
Preceded byZinnatunnessa Talukdar
Succeeded byIsmat Ara Sadek
Personal details
Born (1957-01-01) 1 January 1957 (age 69)
Kachua, East Pakistan, Pakistan
PartyBangladesh Nationalist Party
SpouseNazmun Nahar Baby
Children1
EducationInternational Islamic University Malaysia

Abu Naser Muhammad Ehsanul Hoque Milan (Bengali: আবু নাসের মুহাম্মদ এহসানুল হক মিলন; born 1 January 1957)[1] is a Bangladeshi politician affiliated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He has been the incumbent Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Chandpur-1 constituency and the incumbent minister of education since February 2026.[2] He represented the same constituency from 1996 to 2006 and was the state minister for education from 2001 to 2006 under Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.[3]

Early life and education

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Milan was born in Kachua, Chandpur (then part of Comilla), on 1 January 1957. His father, Obaidul Haque, worked as a government officer, and his mother was Mahmuda Haque. He completed his secondary education at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Government Boys' High School and higher secondary education at Government Intermediate Technical College (now Government Science College).[4]

Milan earned a chemistry degree from the University of Dhaka. In 1982, Milon moved to the United States and obtained an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology. He served as an adjunct lecturer at Brooklyn College and Borough of Manhattan Community College, and worked professionally as a chemist in the pharmaceutical industry. In 2018, he earned a PhD in political science from the International Islamic University Malaysia; his dissertation examined the role of technical and vocational education and training in Bangladesh's socioeconomic development.[5]

Personal life

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Milan is married to Nazmun Nahar Baby.[4] She graduated in zoology from the University of Dhaka and in Computer Information Science (CIS) from the City University of New York (CUNY). She serves as vice-president of the central committee of Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Mohila Dal.[4] They have a daughter, Tanjeeda Nahar Hoque, who graduated in international criminal law from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.[4]

Political career

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Milan began his political career in the student movement. Elected as sports secretary of Fazlul Haque Hall Chhatra Sangsad (student council) in 1978–79 under the Jasad-backed Chhatra League, he later joined Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal and held leadership positions in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1993, BNP leader Khaleda Zia appointed him as international affairs secretary. He also founded and coordinated the BNP-USA chapter until 1996.[6]

Milan became a parliament member for the first time in the 7th national parliament election held in 1996 from the constituency 260, Chandpur-1, Kachua.[7] In the election of the 8th national parliament held in 2001, he defeated the Awami League candidate, former minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir, by a large margin. Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia appointed Milan as the state minister for education.[8] After being responsible for Chandpur, he started a movement called Jatka Nidhon Protirodh Andolon (Stop Killing Small Hilsa Fish) on his own initiative.[9]

Milan won the 2026 Bangladeshi general election, contesting at the Chandpur-1 constituency and securing 133,032 votes while his nearest opponent Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Abu Nohar Muhammad Makbul Ahmad got 70,368 votes.[10][11]

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After serving in office, Milon faced legal challenges. On 5 June 2012, he secured bail in numerous cases and subsequently traveled abroad.[12] He returned to Bangladesh in November 2018 and was arrested in Chittagong, accused in as many as 25 cases involving serious charges such as murder, smuggling, and vandalism.[12] A Chandpur court sent him to jail, and over subsequent months, he was granted bail in many of those cases while some remained unresolved.[13][14][15]

Involvement and views

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In recent years, Milon has continued to engage in public discourse and education initiatives. In February 2025, as director of the ADUST Skill Development Institute, he spoke at a workshop urging youth to embrace technology and entrepreneurship in nation-building.[16]

In May 2025, he publicly criticized the interim government's inefficiency and called for swift elections. Addressing students, he emphasized the importance of balancing activism with academic and moral development.[17]

Minister for Education (2026–present)

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Following the formation of the government led by Tarique Rahman, Milan was sworn in on 17 February 2026 as the minister for education and minister for primary and mass education.[18] After assuming office, he pledged to reform Bangladesh's education system and restore its academic standards.

Controversy over HSC 2026 exam conducts

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In July 2026, Milan faced widespread criticism after the government decided to proceed with the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations despite severe weather conditions affecting many parts of the country. The decision prompted criticism on social media and from political figures, with calls for postponement of the examinations.[19] Many notable non-political political figures and organizations came in support of the criticism.[20][21] At last, on 13 July, a mass protest began against him for his decision to continue the HSC exam. Because in the context of mass floods over the country, students were concerned.[22] In a call record, he mentioned the students as 'broiler chicken'.[23][24][25] That's why students called for his resignation.[26]

The Bangladesh Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee, the government body responsible for coordinating HSC and equivalent examinations, issued an official statement signed by its president in response to the criticism. The committee stated that the decision was based on reports from local administrations, which indicated that most examination centres remained operational, which showed a severe lack of information as students were found participating in exams at flooded exam centres[22]. It also cited the use of a common question paper across all education boards and warned that postponing the examinations could disrupt the education calendar and university admission schedule despite the fact that one of the largest board, Chittagong board's examination was already postponed at the time and continuing later with them was totally a viable option.The statement added that Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) were authorized to take necessary measures if conditions worsened.[27]

HSC 2026 controversy became more notable for its consistent faulty questions, especially in science group. English version students happened to suffer the most due to multiple translation errors in almost all exams[28][29]. The minister along with the board even though admitted to the severe inconsistencies regarding the Physics first paper exam, remained in denial for most other exams.[30]

References

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  1. ↑ "Member details". Bangladesh Parliament. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  2. ↑ "Gazette notification on allocation of portfolios to ministers, state ministers". Prothom Alo. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  3. ↑ "HC clears way for BNP's Milan to go abroad". The Daily Star. 10 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 মাননীয় মন্ত্রী. Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  5. ↑ "Profile - ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milan". Tritiyo Matra. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  6. ↑ "Bangladesh Nationalist Party". Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  7. ↑ "List of 7th Parliament Members". Bangladesh Parliament (in Bengali). p. 8.
  8. ↑ "BNP leader Milon gets bail". bdnews24.com. 11 March 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  9. ↑ Eurobdnews (25 October 2013). "Interview of Former State Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon With Shaifur Rahman By eurobdnewsonline.com". Retrieved 25 December 2016 – via YouTube.
  10. ↑ "BNP announces candidates for 237 seats". BSS. 3 November 2025. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  11. ↑ "BNP candidate Ehsanul Hoque Milon wins unofficially from Chandpur-1". BSS. 13 February 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  12. 1 2 "25 Criminal Cases: BNP leader Milon sent to jail". The Daily Star. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  13. ↑ "BNP leader Milon lands in jail". Dhaka Tribune. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  14. ↑ "BNP leader Milon arrested in Chattogram". bdnews24.com. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  15. ↑ "BNP leader Milon gets bail in 18 cases". UNB. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  16. ↑ "Youths to Build New Bangladesh Using Technology, Says Former State Minister for Education". ChicHue. 12 February 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  17. ↑ "Ehsanul links demand for quick polls to interim govt's ineffectiveness". Dhaka Tribune. 14 May 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  18. ↑ "Gazette notification on allocation of portfolios to ministers, state ministers". Prothom Alo. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  19. ↑ সোমবার চট্টগ্রাম বাদে সব বোর্ডে এইচএসসি পরীক্ষা হবে. Jagonews24.com (in Bengali). 13 July 2026.
  20. ↑ এইচএসসি পরীক্ষা স্থগিতের দাবি ছাত্রদলসহ তিন ছাত্রসংগঠনের. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 13 July 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  21. ↑ শিক্ষামন্ত্রীর পদত্যাগ চাইলেন ঢাবির সেই শামীম হোসেন | NPB. npbnews.com (in Bengali). 13 July 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  22. 1 2 প্লাস্টিকের নৌকায় করে পরীক্ষা দিতে যাচ্ছেন এইচএসসি পরীক্ষার্থীরা [HSC examinees are going to take the exam in plastic boats]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 13 July 2026. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  23. ↑ ফার্মের মুরগি বিতর্কে বাংলাদেশে জন্ম নিলো ‘ব্রয়লার চিকেন পার্টি’ ['Broiler Chicken Party' born in Bangladesh amid broiler chicken controversy]. The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). 14 July 2026. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  24. ↑ ‘মুরগি’ মন্তব্যে বিতর্ক [Controversy over 'Chicken' comment]. Aaro Ananda (in Bengali). 14 July 2026. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  25. ↑ 'এরা তো ফার্মের মুরগি, বৃষ্টিতে ভিজলেই জ্বর আসবে' ['They are farm chickens, they will get a fever if they get wet in the rain']. Jago News 24 (in Bengali). 14 July 2026. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  26. ↑ ‘দফা এক, দাবি এক, মিলনের পদত্যাগ’ স্লোগানে শিক্ষা বোর্ডের সামনে শিক্ষার্থীরা [Students in front of the Education Board chanting the slogan 'One point, one demand, Milon's resignation']. Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). 14 July 2026. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  27. ↑ 'অভিন্ন প্রশ্নপত্র ব্যবস্থায় এক বোর্ডের কারণে সব বোর্ডের পরীক্ষা স্থগিত বাস্তবসম্মত নয়' (in Bengali). Ekhon TV. 13 July 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  28. ↑ "Errors Across English-Version Questions Spark Outcry from HSC Candidates | The Daily Campus". english.thedailycampus.com. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  29. ↑ "HSC English version question riddled with errors, candidates outraged". Daily Observer. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  30. ↑ "No Errors in HSC Chemistry Question Paper, Says Dhaka Education Board | The Daily Campus". english.thedailycampus.com. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
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