PM blames BNP, Jamaat for 'poor results'

This July 23 photo shows Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressing a Deputy Commissioners’ Conference at the International Conference Centre in the Premier’s Office.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Saturday blamed the opposition political parties for what she termed "poor" and "unexpected" results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations this year.

After steady rise over the past four years, the pass rate declined by 4.37 percentage points to drop to 74.30 percent this year.

"Hartal and other political unrest conducted by the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami during the exam days caused the poor results," Abul Kalam Azad, press secretary to the premier, told The Daily Star quoting Hasina as saying.

The premier made the remark after receiving a copy of the results from Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid at her official residence Gono Bhaban Saturday morning.

The students could not concentrate in their studies in the uncongenial atmosphere. So, they should not be blamed for the results, Kalam quoted the PM.

The opposition will have to shoulder the responsibility for the result, the PM said.