DHAKA: The upcoming Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations will begin in due time despite the nationwide road-water-railway blockade program of the BNP-led 20-party alliance for indefinite period.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid came up with the firm determination while talking to journalists at Secretariat in the city after a meeting on preparation and progress of HSC examination including law and order situation there.

The SSC and equivalent examinations will begin on February 2. Meanwhile, the alliance’s blockade has entered the 23rd straight day on Wednesday.

Asked whether the tests will be held in due time, Nahid said “We are sincerely requesting them (BNP and its alliance) to withdraw the blockade to let our children taking part examinations unworriedly.”

“Let’s see whether they (BNP and its alliance) reply to our request. Please halt your (protest) program, don’t destroy our children’s future, he added.

The minister went on saying that the government has no alternative even the protest program remains continued, which must be stopped.

All preparations are set to start the examinations and people who can possibly leak the question papers are under watch, Nahid added.

Police officials, who were present there, told the journalists that Bangladesh Government Press (BG Press), Facebook and coaching centers are under surveillance in a bid to prevent possible question leakage.

Education Secretary Nazrul Islam, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education director general Fahima Khatun, high officials from different ministries and law enforcement agencies were present at the meeting.

BDST: 1432 HRS, JAN 28, 2015