-Mita Mukherjee

The state government will take strong action against any bandh call during the state Madhyamik (Class X), Higher Secondary, ICSE, ISC and CBSE board examinations and no rallies and outdoor programmes will be allowed till the completion of all the school leaving tests, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday.

Addressing an administrative meeting in Siliguri in North Bengal, the chief minister said any attempt to disrupt normal life during the examination days will be dealt with strongly.

“The Madhyamik examination will start on February 23. Even  other board exams like the ISC exam are in progress. Other  exams like ICSE and CBSE too will start soon. Who will take the responsibility if students are not able to reach the examination centres,” asked Mamata. She  directed the administration  to be tough against those who try to disrupt public life. “The government will not let students suffer because of some people blocking roads. No one will be allowed to hold outdoor programmes or rallies during the examinations,” she said. She also reiterated that her government was against “bandh culture” and wanted offices and industries to function.

The Opposition members at the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Sabha on Tuesday called for a 12-hour general strike in the Darjeeling Hills on Thursday to protest against the Bengal’s Assembly’s resolution against further division of the state.

The West Bengal Madhyamik examination will start on February 23 and continue till March 4. Around 6,98, 724 candidates will write the examination this year.

This is the first time the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education will conduct a full-length Madhyamik exam after the outbreak of the pandemic. It will go back to the system that used to be practiced till 2020 and conduct the Madhyamik on the full syllabus.

The exam was not held in 2021 and in 2022 it was held on the basis of a truncated syllabus.

Ramanuj Ganguly, the board president said that the results of the Class X board exam will be published in May. This year nearly four lakh less examinees will write the test.

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