Think about 1.5 million SSC students as you do about Coco's daughters: Nahid to Khaleda

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid has wished Arafat Rahman Coco’s daughters, who flew to Malaysia to sit for examinations, good luck but has urged Khaleda Zia to think about the fate of around 1.5 million Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinees in Bangladesh.

The minister appealed for the BNP chairperson's help to hold the exams without hindrance at a press conference on Tuesday after deferring Wednesday's SSC tests because of the BNP-led alliance’s extended general strike.

Khaleda’s late son Coco's wife Sharmila Rahman Sithi left Dhaka on Monday with daughters Zafia Rahman and Zahia Rahman as who had exams there.

Coco had been living in Kuala Lumpur for the past seven years.

Sentenced to a six years in jail for smuggling millions of taka out of Bangladesh, the younger son of Khaleda died on Jan 24 due to cardiac failure there.

With the BNP saying on Monday that Coco's family left for Malaysia because of the children's exams, Nahid joined to say: "We are very happy. Let them sit for the exams.”

But he hoped the BNP chief would also think of the 1.5 million children in Bangladesh who also have to appear in exams.

"I want the help of all from the 20-party coalition. Please help ensure that children can safely take the exams," he said.

"I want the help of honourable Khaleda Zia. She should give instructions (to her party, front organisations and allies) so that children can take the tests properly.”

"I hope she will ask them not to cause disturbances on the exam days," he added.

Monday's SSC and equivalent examinations were shifted to Friday, as the BNP called a 72-hour shutdown from Sunday.

Wednesday's tests were shifted to Saturday with the party deciding to extend the shutdown by another 36 hours, even as it enforces a transport blockade that started on Jan 5.

After having deferred Monday's tests, the minister hoped no shutdown would be called again.

"The BNP and its partners have announced fresh agitations. It is unfortunate for the nation," he added.

He also hoped that the party would not extend its programme anymore and the next examinations would be held according to schedule.