Dhaka, June 26 (V7N) – The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations for 2024 are set to begin on Thursday, across Bangladesh under 11 education boards. A total of 1,251,111 students are expected to participate this year, comprising 618,015 male and 633,096 female candidates. The exams will be conducted in 2,797 centers nationwide, amid heightened health precautions due to rising COVID-19 and dengue infections.
 
On the first day, under the nine general education boards, Bangla First Paper exams will be held at 1,605 centers. Under the Madrasa Education Board, Alim students will appear for the Quran Majid paper in 459 centers, while Technical Board students will take the HSC (BM/BMT) exams in 733 centers. All examinations across the boards will commence at 10:00 AM and conclude at 1:00 PM.
 
The number of examinees under individual boards is as follows: 291,241 in Dhaka, 133,242 in Rajshahi, 101,750 in Cumilla, 116,317 in Jashore, 100,135 in Chattogram, 61,025 in Barishal, 69,683 in Sylhet, 103,832 in Dinajpur, and 78,273 in Mymensingh. Additionally, 86,102 students are registered under the Madrasa Board, and 109,611 under the Technical Education Board.
 
Professor Dr. Khandoker Ehsanul Kabir, Chairman of the Dhaka Education Board and President of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee, stated that this year’s exams are being held during a surge in both COVID-19 and dengue cases. He emphasized that authorities are on high alert to ensure full compliance with health protocols, and that strong measures are in place to prevent question leaks and cheating. Multiple monitoring teams from the board will oversee whether health and security directives are properly enforced.
 
The Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee has issued strict health guidelines for exam centers. Wearing masks has been made mandatory for all candidates, and each center is required to provide hand sanitizers. Furthermore, all centers have been instructed to intensify cleanliness efforts and mosquito control operations to minimize the risk of dengue transmission. Medical teams will be deployed at each center, and law enforcement has been tasked with ensuring crowd control and preventing gatherings outside the venues.
 
To ensure dengue prevention, cleaning and disinfection, including mosquito repellant spraying, must be completed inside and around all exam centers before the start of exams.
 
Students are required to arrive at their respective centers at least 30 minutes before the start of the exam. In case of any delays caused by natural disasters, the duration of the exam will be extended by the same amount of time lost.
 
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