The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations have commenced across Bangladesh today, with all education boards using a set of unified question papers for the first time.
The examination with unified question papers commenced with the Bangla First Paper at 10:00 am.
A total of 1,270,583 candidates will sit for the examinations this year, an increase of 19,472 compared with last year. Of them, 1,069,714 are registered under the country's nine general education boards, while 200,869 will take the examinations under the Madrasah and Technical Education Boards.
This year's examinations will be held at 2,997 centres nationwide. Authorities have identified 145 centres as high-risk, including 40 in Dhaka, and have put in place heightened security arrangements.
To ensure the smooth conduct of the examinations, the authorities have issued 35 directives, covering the distribution of question papers, storage of answer scripts, use of permitted calculator, and security inspections, including checks of examination centre washrooms.
Authorities have introduced enhanced security measures to prevent question paper leaks, while education experts have identified maintaining uniform marking standards as a key challenge.
The written examinations will continue until 8 August, while practical examinations are scheduled to conclude by 15 August.
bd-pratidin/GR
