Agartala, Feb 11, 2024, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala Feb 11: In a striking move against ‘no- proper response’ from Tripura Board of Secondary Examination (TBSE) regarding permission to write Kokborok language examination in Roman script, Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF) on Sunday declared indefinite strike from February 12.

Addressing the press from Agartala Press Club on Sunday, the TSF leaders said, “We lend out full support to the Tipra Indigenous Student Federation’s (TISF) National Highway blockade for an indefinite period from Monday next as the TBSE has not yet declared any clear answers of allowing the tribal students to write answers in Roman script for Kokborok language exam”.

The TBSE will be conducting Higher Secondary and Madhyamik examinations from March 1 and over 5,000 students belonging to tribal communities would appear in the examinations.

For a long time, the tribal students have been demanding “Roman Script” for their indigenous language “Kokborok” instead of Bengali. The issue rocked the recent assembly session and many student bodies belonging to different political parties also came down on roads with the similar demand.

Speaking to the reporters on Sunday, the TSF leader said, “We have waited patiently for a long time, but no more. We also declare an indefinite strike and will fully support the TISF’s bandh”.

“It was on January 25 that we met the President, TBSE for the first time and placed a memorandum demanding Roman script for Kokborok language. Later, we staged a protest in front of the TBSE building on Feb 5 and again placed a clear demand for allowing the students to write the examination in script of their choice, either Bengali or Kokborok, as majority of the students are also demanding to write the exam in Roman script. We were then assured by the President, TBSE that the students will be allowed to write in either of the scripts. But, the next day the President changed the statement and we got to know through the media that no such decision has been taken by the board”, he said.

He added, “On February 9 we again met the TBSE officials and made a final appeal. We asked the board to issue a notification clearing its stand by February 11. But so far, nothing has been done in this regard”.

The student leader announced to build up a strong movement for the interest of the students and sit on strike for an indefinite period of time.