Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations began across the country, except Sylhet Board, on Sunday.
On the first day, Bangla First Paper examination was held in eight general education boards.
A total of 923,719 examinees took part in the examinations out of total 9,33,689 eligible examinees at 1472 centers across the country apart from Sylhet Board. A total of 9970 examinees were absent on the first day while 20 others have been expelled for using unfair means. The rate of absence is 1.07 percent.
One invigilator has also been expelled for using unfair means in the examination.
Dhaka Education Board Chairman and Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee President Tapan Kumar Sarkar told BSS that every year a portion of students remain absent in examination due to different reasons. In the last year, one percent examinees remained absent.
On the first day, heavy early morning rains under the influence of monsoon caused significant hardships for examinees in different places of the country including Dhaka and Chattogram this morning.
The downpour led to a thin presence of public transport on the streets, making it particularly difficult for examinees and their guardians to reach their destinations. Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee has instructed to enhance time in the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations in view of inclement weather.
He said many examinees today faced problems due to rain and traffic congestion.
So, instructions have been given to enhance time in examinations considering the sufferings of examinees due to inclement weather, he added.
Dhaka Education Board also issued an urgent notification giving the instruction of enhancing time in the examinations.
It said if required main entrance of the examination centers will have to be opened before specified time to allow the examinees to enter the centers during the rainy days.
In case of delay -- of half an hour or one hour in beginning examination in any center -- this time should be adjusted to end the examination, the notification added.
Meanwhile, heavy early morning rains under the influence of monsoon caused significant hardships for the examinees in Dhaka, Chattogram and different others parts in the country.
In Dhaka the downpour led to a thin presence of public transport on the streets, making it particularly difficult for examinees and their guardians to reach their destinations. The situation was exacerbated by widespread waterlogging in key areas, including Malibagh, Shantinagar, and Mogbazar.
The waterlogging not only created inconveniences but also fueled severe traffic gridlocks, heightening concerns among examinees and their guardians about timely arrival at examination centers.
According to the latest bulletin from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Dhaka experienced three millimeters of rainfall between 6 am and 12 pm.
The HSC and equivalent exams commenced with the Bangla-I paper (compulsory) across the country, except in the Sylhet division, at 10 am.
Authorities reported that a total of 1,450,790 students from nine general education boards, the Madrasa Board, and the Technical Board are expected to sit for the exams at 2,275 centers across the country.
However, exams in the Sylhet division have been deferred to July 9 due to flooding, as announced by the Ministry of Education.
In Chattogram, despite challenging weather conditions, with students and guardians had to face significant disruptions due to incessant rain.
Heavy rains since morning caused considerable hardship for examinees and their guardians, leading to severe traffic congestion in front of key examination centers, including Dampara Police Line, Chittagong College, Jamal Khan Khastagir, and Agrabad. The congestion began to ease after the exams started at 10 am, with traffic flow improving by 10:30 am.
