THE Junior School Certificate (JSC) and its equivalent Junior Dakhil Certificate (JDC) exams will begin on Thursday (November 1). More than 26 lakh students will take part in the exams this year across the country. The JSD exam will end on November 15 and JDC on November 14. But now, the examinees along with their guardians are passing time in anxiety whether the transport strike would be enforced again at that time.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has urged the transport workers to withdraw their work stoppage considering public sufferings, saying that there is no scope for amending the Act now in this parliament and if their demands are rational, the next parliament and the government will consider those. But general secretary of the Transport Workers Federation Osman Ali turned down the minister’s request, saying, “It is not possible.”
Ending 48-hour strike today 6:am, the transport leaders said that, they would call strike again in next month if their demands are not fulfilled. The road transport organisations though headed by two influential ministers don’t feel shy to enforce strike against the decision of its own leaders. Mysteriously the Shipping Minister who is the Executive President of a road transport workers federation refrained from making any comment over the issue.
On Sunday, several thousand students had faced severe obstacle in attending admission tests in different educational institutions, including Chattogram University and Noakhali Science and Technology University. The situation was almost same on Monday. We do hope that, the government would take necessary step to end the illogical transport strike before the exams begin. At the same time, the hoodlums who are harassing general people spraying burnt-lubricant and bitumen in the guise of transport workers would be brought to book.
Another important issue also should be focused by the government; that is checking of question paper leakage. Though Education Minister has said gathering near the examination centres has been banned and necessary measures would be taken to prevent question paper leaks, the general people’s experience is very bitter. People want to see the public exams without any question paper leakage and this is now the Education Ministry’s responsibility to ensure it.
