HSC Exams to Proceed in All Boards Except Chattogram: Inter-Education Board

The Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee has announced that HSC and equivalent examinations will continue as per the previously published schedule in all education boards across Bangladesh, with the exception of the Chattogram Education Board.

The decision was formalized in a notification issued late Monday, July 13, signed by Professor Syed Akteruzzaman, Chairman of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee and the Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board.

Rationale for Continuing Exams
The committee addressed concerns from students and parents regarding holding exams during adverse weather conditions.

The notification clarified that because HSC exams use a uniform set of question papers nationwide, it is not practical to suspend examinations for all boards due to localized disruptions in a single board.

Key points regarding the decision include:

Scale of Participation: The 2026 HSC and equivalent exams are being held across 11 education boards, involving 1,270,583 students at 2,697 centers.

Chattogram Suspension: The exams for the Chattogram Education Board have been postponed until July 16 due to flooding caused by heavy rainfall, which damaged examination centers and made it unsafe for students to travel. This decision was made in consultation with local administrations and District Commissioners.

Operational Stability: Reports from local administrations and law enforcement indicate that the majority of examination centers in the other 10 boards remain functional and suitable for hosting exams.

Academic Impact: The committee emphasized that frequently postponing exams for over 1.2 million students would severely disrupt the academic calendar, delay result publication, and hinder admission processes for higher education institutions.

Contingency Measures and Safety Protocols
While exams will proceed elsewhere, the committee stressed that student safety remains the top priority. The notification outlines the following safety protocols:

Local Authority Discretion: If a natural disaster threatens student safety or significantly disrupts the examination process in any specific region, the respective District Commissioner has the authority to assess the situation and make an immediate decision regarding a suspension.

Managing Disruptions: While minor travel difficulties were reported at some centers—such as the Cumilla Government Women's College—earlier on Monday, the committee noted that local administration and parental support ensured students were still able to reach centers in time.

The Ministry of Education has urged students and parents to follow official directives and to plan their travel to exam centers with sufficient time, exercising caution due to the ongoing inclement weather.