A total of 19,759 candidates were absent on the first day of the HSC and equivalent examinations across the country.
Meanwhile, 43 candidates were expelled for engaging in cheating. Of these, six were in HSC, 24 in Alim, and 13 in the Technical Education Board exams.
This information was revealed in a press release issued by the President of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee and Chairman of the Dhaka Education Board, Professor Dr Khandokar Ehsanul Kabir.
A total of 932,790 candidates appeared in the Bangla (compulsory) 1st paper examination under the nine general education boards of HSC on Thursday.
According to the information available from 1,599 centers out of 1,600 centers, 918,277 candidates participated in the examination on Thursday, and 14,513 were absent. The rate of absence in the examination is 1.56%.
Of the six expelled candidates, one is under the Rajshahi Education Board, one under the Barishal, three under the Comilla and one under the Mymensingh Education Board.
On the first day of the HSC examination, 3,326 candidates were absent in the Dhaka Board, 1,867 in the Rajshahi Board, 2,428 in the Comilla Board, 1,230 in the Chittagong Board, 1,029 in Barishal Board, 824 in the Sylhet Board, 1,291 in Dinajpur Board, 880 in the Mymensingh Board and 1,638 in the Jessore Board.
Quran Majeed exam was held on the first day of Alim under the Madrasa Board. A total of 84,317 candidates were supposed to take part in the exam at 459 centers. But 80,121 candidates took part in the exam, and 4,196 were absent. The rate of absence is 4.98%. 24 candidates were expelled for engaging in unfair means.
Meanwhile, 98,924 candidates were supposed to take part in the examination at 733 centers under the Technical Education Board. However, 97,874 candidates took the examination and 1,050 were absent. The rate of absence is 1.06%.