Nerves of around 15 lakh students are on edge, as it is still uncertain whether the Secondary School Certificate and equivalent examinations will begin tomorrow. Even a day after the BNP-led alliance called a 72-hour countrywide hartal from this morning, the authorities didn't make clear whether the exams would be held amid hartal and blockade. An education ministry official yesterday said they wo
uld announce today their decision on it. The exams might be deferred due to concern over security of the examinees in the wake of a spate of violence. "But we will have difficulties in rescheduling the exams if hartal continues. We will sit tomorrow [today] to look for options," said the official. A total of 14,79,266 students from 27,808 educational institutions got registered to sit for the exams at 3,116 centres across the country. They are scheduled to take Bangla 1st paper test on the first day. The written tests are to end on March 10. Practical exams are scheduled to begin the next day and end on March 16. Advertisement Yesterday, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid once again urged the BNP and its allies not to enforce shutdowns on exam days. "Taking pity on the students, they [the BNP] should withdraw or at least suspend their programmes on the exam days," he told reporters after attending the second convocation of Sylhet Metropolitan University. Several other ministers also talked about the issue yesterday. At a programme in Jamalpur, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim said leaders and activists of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance will “guard the exam centres”. The BNP, however, has not shown any sign that it would consider lifting shutdowns on exam days. Party's Vice Chairman Hafizuddin Ahmed yesterday wondered how exams could be held while abductions and killings are taking place in the country in the absence of the rule of law. The rule of law must be established first and then the exams can be held, he said while speaking as a panellist at BBC Bangladesh Sanglap yesterday. Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque said, "We will take necessary measures to ensure security of the students on the road and at the centres during exam hours." Briefing reporters at the police headquarters, he said the exams are going to be held at an "unusual time”. Shahidul sought cooperation from politicians and people in general to make sure that the students can take the exams safely. Asked about the security measures, he said it's not possible for them to provide security individually. "We will arrange security at macro level. We may escort a group of students at a time in a certain area." PROTEST PROGRAMMES Students and teachers of capital's Badda Girls High School formed a human chain near Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office, demanding withdrawal of the opposition's blockade and hartal on exam days. Around 600 students and teachers stood on both sides of a road near the BNP chief's office for half an hour from 10:30am with placards, "We want to study"; "Don't kill us”; "Don't burn us." Meanwhile, some guardians of students at Motijheel Model School submitted a memorandum to Khaleda, calling for withdrawal of the ongoing hartal and blockade. Syeda Shamima Sultana and Irin Luna Akhter, who signed the memo on the guardians' behalf, told reporters that they wanted security of their school-going children. The guardians would visit the Prime Minister's Office today to hand in a memorandum with the same demand. In the meantime, students, teachers and guardians held demonstrations in a number of districts, including Jamalpur, Mymensingh, Khulna, Sherpur, Satkhira, Kishoreganj, Chittagong, Pabna and Rajshahi. “I don't know whether or not the exams would be held on time and which subject I should study. But what scares me more is the thought of going to my exam centre.” Mahmuda Noor, Vidyamoyee Govt Girls' High School, Mymensingh “We don't know how long the hartal will continue and how long we will have to wait in uncertainty. Is it possible to properly make preparations in this situation?” Masuda Akter, Darshana BN School and College, Rangpur "I really want to know whether Khaleda Zia has any relative taking the exams. If so, how would she feel?" Monjuara Begum, Masuda's mother “Political parties must keep the future of children in mind. Please, spare the exams for the sake of students.” Amena Akhter, Ripon's mother "I am afraid that pickets might hurl bombs at us on our way to the exam centre. I am too scared to concentrate." Mohammad Ripon, Ctg Collegiate School “I am gripped by the fear of ending up in the middle of a violent situation on way to the exam centre.” Prema Das Tumpa, Jagadish Saraswat Girls' School, Barisal “Some say the exams will not be held amid blockade and hartals, but others say they will. This is hampering my preparation.” Shammo Nahid, Rajshahi Govt Collegiate School “The examination should be postponed as the risks of firebomb attacks are all too palpable.” Shamsun Nahar Mina, Shammo's mother “My preparations were satisfactory. But if the exam dates are changed, all my hard work might go in vain as I would be confused what to study and when." Puja Das, Daulatpur Mohsin Girls' School, Khulna “I can't even imagine what's going to happen on Monday. Since everyone and even the [education] minister requested them [BNP and allies], they should cancel it.” Zarin Rashid Chowdhury, Blue Bird School and College, Sylhet "If this situation continues, how will we sit for the examinations? My preparation is in disarray." Sudeshna Nandy, Dr Khastagir Govt Girls' High School, Chittagong "Who will ensure our children's security on roads? We want political parties to reach a consensus to end this violence." Sanju Nandy, Sudeshna's mother Our correspondents from Rangpur, Chittagong, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal compiled these quotes.
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