The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations began across the country on Tuesday, with the Bangla first paper held as the opening test.
The exam started simultaneously at 10am at 3,885 centres nationwide, with more than 1.85 million candidates from 30,666 schools, madrasas and technical institutions taking part. The test is scheduled to end at 1pm.
According to the routine, the Bangla first paper is being held under nine general education boards. Under the Madrasa Education Board, Quran Majeed and Tajweed exams are being conducted on the first day of the Dakhil examination. Meanwhile, under the Technical Education Board, Bangla-II (vocational) and Dakhil (vocational) exams are also being held.
Candidates and their guardians began arriving at centres early in the morning, with noticeable traffic congestion reported on roads in the capital. Some examinees were seen rushing to reach their centres on time.
School premises in Dhaka and elsewhere saw a significant presence of students, with many making last-minute preparations or discussing possible questions with peers. Parents also expressed a mix of anxiety and hope for a smooth examination process.
Authorities have stepped up security and monitoring measures to ensure the smooth conduct of the exams. Law enforcement agencies have been deployed, and special measures have been taken to prevent digital fraud and question paper leaks.
Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon has issued directives to maintain strict vigilance, particularly against the use of electronic devices and the spread of fake information.
A total of 1,857,344 students are participating in this year’s SSC and equivalent examinations. Of them, 930,305 are male and 927,039 female.
The exams are being held under nine general education boards, along with madrasa and technical education boards.
The Dhaka Education Board has the highest number of candidates and centres, while the Mymensingh Education Board has comparatively fewer centres.
