Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday blamed the opposition BNP and Jamaat-Shibir for the declining rate of pass percentage in this year's HSC and equivalent examinations, reports UNB.
The overall pass rate in the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations has declined by 4.37%.
The result of the HSC and its equivalent examinations was published on Saturday showing pass rate of 74.30% as against 78.67% last year.
"It is the BNP and Jmaaat-Shibir who are responsible for this decline in pass percentage; they must have to take the responsibility," she said.
Hasina said it was regrettable how anyone could fail to realise the importance of an examination like HSC and its equivalent.
"We requested them [BNP, Jamaat-Shibir] repeatedly for not calling any hartal during the examinations. But they imposed hartals during SSC and HSC examinations."
In this regard, she said a total of 32 HSC exam dates had to be shifted due to the opposition party-imposed hartals. The exam date of English second paper was shifted four times. At last it was held at the end of all other exams whereas it was scheduled to be held in the first phase.
The Prime Minister said the frequent change of dates for the exams badly affected the examinees, creating huge pressure on them.
"BNP and Jamaat-Shibir would have to answer to the nation why they destroyed the future of the students by imposing hartals"¦ Can anyone say what they had achieved by imposing hartals?"
Hasina mentioned that the present government put the highest emphasis on the education sector and formulated an education policy that was acceptable by all.
She congratulated the teachers and all concerned for publishing the results within the stipulated time despite several hartal programmes of the opposition parties.