Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-The Bangladesh government has shifted Thursday’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent examinations to March 7 as the ongoing general strike was extended.
Education Secretary Nazrul Islam Khan announced the new schedule Wednesday afternoon, one day after the BNP-led 20-party alliance extended its ongoing general strike till 6:00am Friday in Bangladesh.
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 seventh times.
The SSC exams however began in February 6, which was a weekend.
Since then, all the exams were taken on Friday and Saturday, which were weekends in Bangladesh.
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 75 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-25Feb15-4:00pm (BST)