The education minister, Nurul Islam Nahid, called on all concerned to oppose general strike which, he argued, was causing disruptions to the entire education system,
particularly the ongoing Higher Secondary Certificate and equivalent examinations.
He said that the authorities needed to reschedule the exams several times because of the strikes, which will consequently delay the publication of results.
He added that everyone who had students in the family was being adversely affected by the opposition’s countrywide general strike in protest at M Ilias Ali’s disappearance.
‘We are very worried about the present situation. The repeated strike by the BNP is leading the total
education system to the verge of collapse... Guardians and all should stand up against general strike as a political programme,’
Nahid said.
He argued that the strike is an irresponsible programme and called on the BNP to avert such ‘inconsiderate activities.’ 
‘We hope that he [Ilias Ali] returns to his family as soon as possible.
But his disappearance should not be a reason to destroy the lives of
students.’
Ilias Ali, a former lawmaker for the Sylhet 2 constituency, went missing from Dhaka around midnight past April 17 along with his driver.
The BNP holds government agencies responsible for his disappearance and have enforced the dawn-to-dusk hartal for the fourth day on Sunday and threatened the government with ‘a tougher movement’ pressing for the demand for his ‘return.’
It also called a general strike for Monday from 6:00am to 6:00pm.
Asked about Saturday’s violence in Jahangirnagar University where activists of the ruling Awami League-backed Chhatra League attacked teachers and cultural activists on demonstrations, Nahid declined comments.