Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations will continue across Bangladesh according to the existing timetable, with the exception of the Chattogram division, where examinations remain postponed because of severe flooding and waterlogging.
Education authorities confirmed on Tuesday that there has been no change to the government’s decision to proceed with the examinations in areas where conditions are considered suitable.
Professor Jesmin Taslima Banu, Convener of the Inter-Education Board Examination Controllers’ Committee and Controller of Examinations at the Dhaka Education Board, said the education boards had not received any instruction to suspend the examinations.
She explained that decisions regarding the examination schedule rest with the government, while the education boards are responsible for carrying them out.
According to the current directive, examinations will continue as planned across the country except in the affected areas of Chattogram.
The position was reaffirmed during a virtual meeting organised by the Ministry of Education earlier on Tuesday to assess the overall examination situation.
The meeting was chaired by Education and Primary Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon and attended by senior officials, including the prime minister's education adviser, the education secretary, divisional commissioners, education board chairpersons, deputy commissioners, police superintendents and representatives from other relevant government agencies.
Officials reviewed reports from across the country before deciding that the published examination timetable should remain unchanged outside the Chattogram division.
Authorities said the postponement in Chattogram was necessary because extensive waterlogging had made it impossible for many examination centres to operate safely.
In other regions, however, they concluded that conditions remained suitable for candidates to sit their examinations.
Officials also noted that Monday’s examinations were completed without significant disruption across the country, apart from difficulties reported at one examination centre.
While the authorities have maintained the existing schedule, opposition to the decision continued to grow in several areas.
Groups of HSC candidates staged demonstrations in Dhaka and other districts on Tuesday, arguing that heavy rainfall, flooding and transport disruptions had created unequal conditions for students.
Protesters demanded that examinations be temporarily suspended until the weather improves. They also called for a separate examination to be arranged for candidates who were unable to attend the tests held on 13 July because of adverse weather conditions.
Some demonstrators further demanded the resignation of Education and Primary Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon.
Protests and road blockades were reported in several parts of the capital, including the Science Laboratory area and Uttara, causing temporary disruption to traffic.
Despite the demonstrations, the government has maintained that examinations will continue according to the published timetable in all regions where conditions allow, while the postponement in Chattogram remains in place until authorities determine that it is safe to resume the examinations.
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