Once again hartal

The BNP has again called for 72-hour hartal. We condemn it most strongly. We do so more because the fate of one and a half million students is being played foul with. An unthinking continuation of hartal imperils the plight of students which is already in dire straits having been caught up in two disruptive spells of exam rescheduling. Further uncertainty looms over their academic career with degenerate politics showing no signs of abating.

In a context where quality of education is being constantly debated, political uncertainty is upsetting the concentration of students in studies with a fall in the quality of performance.

Can a political party that claims to be fighting for people's rights be so unconcerned about the plight of the students? If the BNP has the right to call hartal, what about the rights of the students who are faced with uncertainties about their exams?

Why should the level of politics come to such a pass that students are made targets of political programmes?  We wonder why it is the students who have to face the wrath of the BNP. Surely Khaleda Zia cannot be oblivious of the great harm done to the 'A' and 'O' level examinees who have not only have to re-register for the same subjects but sadly will have lost a year by the time their chance to retake the exam comes. And now the SSC examinees, likewise, will suffer trauma due to the disruptions and rescheduling of exam dates.

We reiterate strongly our call to BNP to call off the hartal.