DHAKA, June 25 (V7N) – Education Adviser Professor Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar today assured the public that the interim government is on high alert to prevent any instances of question paper leaks during the upcoming Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations. The exams are set to commence tomorrow, June 26, across the country.

In an interview with BSS, Dr. Abrar emphasized the government's commitment to conducting the exams fairly. "To prevent the incidence of reoccurrence of question paper leaks, the interim government has remained alert. We don't want to see such incidents of question paper leak this time anymore, and we have strictly directed local administrations in this regard," he stated.

He further elaborated on the measures being taken, confirming that robust steps have already been implemented to ensure security at all examination halls. "Immediate legal actions will be taken on receiving information or allegation regarding question paper leaks or adopting unfair means in the exams. Besides, teachers, the local administration will also monitor the process," the adviser added.

To prevent any technological exploitation, Dr. Abrar announced a strict prohibition: "Using any electronic device without the approval of the administration will be prohibited within the 200 yards of the exam centers and immediate actions will be taken against the regulation violators." This includes mobile phones for all individuals except the center-in-charge, who may carry a non-camera phone.

The HSC and equivalent examinations for 2025 will begin tomorrow, Thursday, June 26, under 11 education boards, with the Bangla 1st paper examination starting at 10 AM. This year, a total of 12,51,111 examinees are registered, comprising 618,015 male and 633,096 female candidates. Of these, 10,55,398 candidates are under the General Education Board, 86,102 under the Madrasa Education Board (Alim), and 109,611 under the Technical Education Board.

The examinations will be held at 2,797 centers across Bangladesh, with an additional 293 candidates appearing at 8 centers located outside the country. The total number of educational institutions participating is 9,314.

In a proactive measure to prevent potential leaks and maintain a fair environment, the Ministry of Education has mandated that all coaching centers across the country will remain closed until August 15.

Dr. Abrar also appealed to guardians to cooperate in ensuring the exams are conducted fairly and peacefully. The Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee and the Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board have also assured that all possible avenues for question paper leakage have been closed, with strict surveillance systems in place involving intelligence agencies, law enforcement, and IT experts. They have urged students to focus on their textbooks and not be swayed by rumors of leaks.

These stringent measures come in the wake of a history of question paper leaks in Bangladesh's public examinations, including the HSC. Notably, a recent incident on June 22 saw an HSC history question paper leak from a police station in Naogaon, leading to the withdrawal of the OC and three constables, and the cancellation of the leaked paper, with a replacement set to be used. Such incidents have repeatedly undermined public trust in the examination system, highlighting the critical need for robust preventative actions.

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