No agitation harming HSC exams: BNP

BNP has decided not to announce any programme which will create sufferings of examinees during their Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations that started at 8,104 educational institutions across the country today.
BNP Joint Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed announced the party’s decision in reply to the education minister’s request to all political parties not to carry on with any destructive programme during the examinations.
“We will not announce any political programme that causes sufferings to students and the countrymen. Rather, we will take people with us to wage movement against the government,” Salahuddin said at a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office today.
Earlier in the day, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid urged all political parties not to declare any such programmes causing harm to country’s future generation.
Lambasting Communications Minister Obaidul Quader’s comments that the recent upazila elections were the fairest and most peaceful polls comparing to all elections in the past, Salahuddin said the minister’s claim is right because the upazila polls might have been fair comparing to the January 5 parliamentary polls.
He said the Election Working Group and other election observer groups have commented that massive irregularities took place since the third phase of upazila elections.
Criticising the Election Commission, Salahuddin said, “Through holding of a controversial upazila election, EC has completed funeral of the country’s democratic process. The Election Commission has turned into a worthless and subservient organ of the government.”  
He called upon BNP leaders and activists to embrace death and to carry out movement against the “oppressive and illegal” government and to dethrone the Hasina administration.
He said the history of AL is the history of “vote dacoity”. “The government is moving towards a one-party rule as it does not care criticism of anyone.”