Malda, Sept. 17: The SFI has begun a district-wise agitation demanding free review of the answer-scripts of all students who have failed their BA, BSc and BCom exams under the North Bengal University (NBU) this year.

Sources said more than 50 per cent of all students who appeared for their Part I and Part II exams from Malda this time have failed.

The students’ wing of the CPM today forced the authorities of all eight colleges in the district to suspend classes. SFI supporters also prevented successful students of Gour College from collecting their mark sheets.

In a memorandum submitted to the governing body of Malda College, the SFI said the answer-scripts must be re-examined in the presence of teachers from the college.

“We were shocked when we saw this year’s results. In Malda College, more than 60 per cent of the candidates have failed, while in the other colleges the success rate is, on an average, less than 50 per cent,” said district secretary of the SFI Joy Chakraborty.

The SFI leader demanded that the university waive the reassessment fee of Rs 50 per paper. Last year, the university had earned over Rs 1.50 lakh for reassessment from Malda College alone, he claimed.

“Those who pay the review fee are promoted — it is like a business,” said Chakraborty.

The principal of Malda College, Aniruddha Sengupta, admitted he was shocked by this year’s results. He said the teachers’ council of his college will sit down on September 26 to discuss the matter, while he himself will meet the NBU vice-chancellor to see what can be done about the unsuccessful students.