The government has deferred tomorrow's SSC examination to March 7 (Saturday) due to the BNP-led 20-party alliance's ongoing countrywide hartal.

The examination will be held from 10:00am to 1:00pm, Education Secretary Nazrul Islam Khan said while announcing the new schedule at a briefing, private television channel Somoy TV reports.

On top of the indefinite blockade, the alliance has been enforcing hartal since February 1, excluding Fridays and Saturdays, compelling the education ministry to reschedule exams. Several tests have already been deferred due to the shutdowns.

The strike which will be in force until 6:00am on Friday was called protesting the "killing of opposition leaders and activists in the name of crossfire and filing of false cases against alliance leaders,"