DHAKA: Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Wednesday called BNP-led 20-party alliance for not enforcing more hartal and blockade during Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations.

The minister made his appeal while talking to journalists after visiting HSC exam center at Viquarunnisa Noon School and College in the city during the tests this morning.

Nahid said tha they are urging that calling do not call hartal and blockade anymore.

If you (the 20-party alliance) can keep hartal-blockade program postpone for the city corporation polls and the match victory in the World Cup so why you will not refrain from enforcing these programs considering the future of 10-lakh students, he added.

The minister said no problems were reported from elsewhere of the country in holding examinations and hopefully students are appearing their exams in peaceful environment.

The HSC and its equivalent examinations begun at a total of 2,419 centers across the country simultaneously at 10:00am amid nationwide road-rail-waterway blockade for indefinite period, sponsored by BNP.

A total of 1,073,884 students under 10 education boards, including one madrasah and one technical board, have registered to sit for the tests from 8,305 educational institutions.

Of the total students, 570,993 are boys and 502,891 are girls.

A total of 241 students have also registered for the examinations from seven overseas centres, too.

Besides, a total of 886,933 students have registered for the examinations from eight general education boards while 84,360 from madrasah board, 98,247 from vocational and 4,344 from DIBS.

BDST: 1407 HRS, APR 01, 2015