Despite day-long protests across the country demanding the postponement of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams and the resignation of the Education Minister, the education administration remains firm in its decision to proceed with the exams on Wednesday (July 15) in all boards except for the Chattogram division.
The government's stance was clarified by Mahadi Amin, spokesperson for the Office of the Chief Adviser, in a Facebook post around 10:00 PM on Tuesday (July 14).
He stated that, following consultations with all relevant stakeholders, a favorable environment for conducting exams exists in all areas under the country's boards, with the exception of the Chattogram board.
Mahadi Amin explained that the Ministry of Education has been in constant communication with the Meteorological Department, as well as divisional, district, and upazila administrations over the past few days regarding the feasibility of holding exams amid adverse weather.
Detailed discussions were also held on Tuesday morning with divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, superintendents of police, and chairmen of all education boards.
The decision to proceed was made based on a unanimous consensus from all parties, as the administration claims the overall situation has improved significantly, despite localized waterlogging caused by heavy rainfall.
Exams Suspended in Chattogram Division
HSC and equivalent examinations under the Chattogram Education Board—which covers the five flood-affected districts of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachhari—have been postponed until July 16. Exams in all other boards will proceed as scheduled.
Flexibility for Local Administration and Students
Highlighting that local administrations have been granted special authority to ensure student safety, Mahadi Amin noted that if any issues arise due to travel difficulties or waterlogging, local authorities have the power to change exam centers, postpone exams, or extend the time allotted.
Furthermore, any student unable to attend the exam due to adverse weather will be given the opportunity to sit for the exam on the same day as the postponed exams for the Chattogram board.
Addressing the examinees, Mahadi Amin said, "The examinees are like our own children. The government deeply understands the importance of their future, dreams, and mental well-being. Just as it is the government's duty to ensure a safe environment for examinations, it is also our responsibility to ensure the exams are completed on time to honor the students' long-term preparation."
Addressing Exam Irregularities
Acknowledging that two errors were found in the Physics First Paper question set, Mahadi Amin announced that all students would be awarded full marks for those two questions. He also issued a warning against misinformation and political agitation spreading via old photos and videos on social media.
Notably, on Tuesday, HSC examinees held protests and blocked roads in Dhaka throughout the day to protest holding exams during adverse weather and errors in the question papers.
The protests were temporarily suspended at night after the Education Minister announced a re-examination for the Physics, Accounting, and Logic First Paper exams.
