SYLHET: Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid urged the BNP-led 20-party alliance to withdraw hartal for the sake of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations, scheduled to start on Monday.

He made the appeal through journalists here on Saturday after attending the second convocation of Sylhet Metropolitan University at Mehendibagh Krira Complex Playground.

Nahid said there that about 15 lakh students are going to sit for SSC and equivalent examinations this year. But the 72-hour hartal, to be started from previous day of the exam, created fresh panic and uncertainty among students and their guardians.

"We urge the BNP and its allies to lift the violent means of demonstration during the SSC examinations considering future of the examinees,” said Nahid adding “Please, consider the students' interest."

Earlier in the morning, education minister attended the convocation program of Metropolitan University as the representative of President Abdul Hamid, also the chancellor of the university.

The SSC examinations will begin on February 2 simultaneously under the country's 10 education boards and end on March 10. 

BDST: 1318 HRS, JAN 31, 2015

** 72-hr countrywide hartal from Sunday