Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-The Bangladesh government has shifted tomorrow’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent examinations to February 27 as the ongoing general strike was extended till Friday morning.
Bangladesh’s Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid announced the new schedule Tuesday afternoon hours after the BNP-led 20-party alliance extended its 72-hourt shutdown till February 20.
The minister held an emergency press conference in Sylhet to reschedule the exams.
The BNP-led alliance has been enforcing non-stop blockade of roads, rail and waterways alongside frequent strike since January 5 demanding a fresh general election.
So far, the SSC and its equivalent examinations which were scheduled to begin on February 2 rescheduled for fifth times.
This year, around 1.5 million students are taking the exams.
Khaleda called the blockade after she was barred from coming out of her Gulshan office on January 5.
BNP said its party chief was “confined” but the government denied the allegation though it had put additional law enforcers and sand-laden trucks in front of Khaleda’s office.
The government however removed the security barriers after 16 days on January 19.
So far, at least 70 people, mostly innocent, were killed and dozens including law enforcers injured in the mindless act of arson and petrol bomb attacks across the country during the blockade and strike.
Hundreds of vehicles were also torched and vandalised during the political agitation.
BBN/ANS/AD-17Feb15-5:00pm (BST)