The O level and A level examinees and guardians expressed anxiety and frustration as the exams scheduled to be held on Monday did not take place because of the opposition’s 60-hour hartal enforced from Sunday.
The uncertainty pevailed as British Council Bangladesh did not announce any new schedule to hold the examinations that were postponed up to the filing of this report.
However, according to a revised schedule, on Tuesday’s examinations were held in two slots – one at 7:30pm instead of 11am and another started at 11:45pm instead of 3pm.
British Council officials told the Dhaka Tribune on Sunday that upon discussion with the board, they would let know the examinees through SMS if the examinations were rescheduled.
“We are discussing the situation with the examination board. If logistically feasible, we will let you know the revised schedule upon consent from the board,” said an official.
Officials on Monday said though they had been communicating with the board no decision was taken yet.
“I am worried if the postponed examinations will be taken again. If not, then my son will lose one year because of the awful political situation prevailing in this country,” Fazle Elahi, guardian of an O level examinee said with distress.
The O level and A level examination scheduled to be held on Tuesday for October–November session under Cambridge International Examinations administered by British Council Bangladesh, were postponed due to the continuous hartals.
Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretary general of the main opposition BNP announced on Sunday that the O level and A level examinations would remain out of the purview of the strike.
However, the announcement drew widespread criticism from the examinees and guardians.
They opined that the announcement came too late and feared that the examinees might lose one year due to the volatile political situation.
Ahsanul Haque, another guardian, said BNP’s decision to exempt the O level and A level examinations should have come earlier.
