Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-One day after the extension of strike, the Bangladesh government has postponed Thursday’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent examinations.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid made the declaration during a press briefing Wednesday afternoon at his office in Dhaka.
“Thursday’s SSC and its equivalent examinations are postponed due to hartal (strike),” said Mr Nahid.
The fresh schedule of the postponed examinations will be announced later, the minister said.
On Tuesday, the BNP-led 20-party alliance had extended it ongoing 72-hour general strike till 6:00am February 13.
Earlier the shutdown was scheduled to end at 6:00am Wednesday.
The SSC examinations are calendared to begin from February 2.
But the ongoing political unrest including roads, rail and waterways blockade alongside frequent strike forced the government to defer the exams date for fourth time.
However, the SSC examinations have started on February 6 which is a weekend in Bangladesh.
Earlier, the education minister repeatedly requested the 20-party to keep the two hours before the beginning of examination and two hours after the examination out of shutdown purview considering the sufferings of the SSC examinees.
Around 1.5 million students across the country are sitting for the examinations.
BBN/ASI/AD-11Feb15-3:30pm (BST)
