DHAKA: Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Tuesday said the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations will be held as per schedule despite hartal and blockade enforced by BNP-led 20-party alliance.

The minister came up with the assertion while replying to the journalists at the convocation of United International University at Bangabandhu International Conference Center in the city on Tuesday.

Nahid said the HSC and equivalent examinations will begin on April 1 by overcoming all obstacles.

They have no alternative and they are under pressure from different quarters for holding the examinations on time, he added.

Nahid went on saying that law enforcement agencies have taken preparation to provide security to the examinees on streets.

He claimed that there is nothing called hartal-blockade and everything is going normal.

BDST: 1355 HRS, MAR 24, 2015