Bangladesh Police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have said their forces would provide security for Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam candidates amid the BNP-led alliance’s hartal and transport blockade programmes.
The BNP coalition’s declared 72-hour hartal overlaps with the first day of the SSC exam scheduled to start tomorrow.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque, at a press briefing at police headquarters yesterday, said if the government decides to hold SSC examinations during the opposition programmes, police would provide security.
Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Police Mokhlesur Rahman, AIG (Media) Jalaluddin Ahmed and other top police officials were present.
The IGP said that besides providing security for exam halls, police would also provide security for localities having more than 50 candidates.
The police chief said: “Being a father and a common citizen of the country, I request the BNP alliance to withdraw the programmes for the sake of the students.”
Barring a withdrawal of the blockade, he the opposition coalition to keep SSC examinees outside the purview of their programmes.
The police chief said professional saboteurs were hurling petrol and crude bombs for money and many of these paid troublemakers were in police custody.
Asked about the arrest of top BNP leaders for sabotage, the police chief said that was up to the investigation officers of the specific cases.
A special meeting held at police headquarters to plan for SSC exam security decided to deploy metropolitan police, district police, highway police, armed police battalion and Rapid Action Battalion forces along with regular police at exam venues and on the roads and highways.
BGB chief Major General Aziz Ahmed, Ansar chief Major General Md Nazimuddin, Special Branch Additional IGP Dr Jabed Patowari, RAB Director General Benazir Ahmed, Additional IGP Mokhlesur Rahman and DMP Commissioner Asaduzzman Miah were present at the meeting.
A DMP press statement signed by Commissioner Asaduzzaman yesterday banned the entrance of the general public within 200 yards of exam halls, ordered under section 28 and 29 of the DMP Ordinance.
BGB Director General Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune that the BGB would be deployed near examination centres two or three hours before and after exam times, so that examinees can sit the exams and return home safely, he said.