Education Boards Hold Emergency Meeting on HSC Exams, Key Directive Expected

Amid mounting pressure from students, guardians, and political organizations demanding the suspension of the ongoing Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations due to severe countrywide waterlogging and flood threats, the Dhaka Education Board has called an emergency meeting. Chaired by Professor Syed Akteruzzaman, Chairman of the Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, the high-level meeting is currently underway to assess the ground realities of examination centers across the country before presenting a coordinated report to the Ministry of Education for a final decision on postponement.

The Inter-Education Board Coordination Sub-Committee confirmed that a formal directive will be issued immediately to all regional education boards and center authorities to gather exact field-level data on the affected venues. Professor Syed Akteruzzaman stated that once the comprehensive data regarding the waterlogged and high-risk centers is compiled, it will be submitted directly to the Ministry, which retains the ultimate authority to declare a suspension.

This administrative move follows widespread public outcry after video footage and photographs circulated on social media showing candidates wading through waist-deep water or using wooden boats to reach their halls following continuous monsoon downpours. While the Ministry of Education previously lacked precise statistics on how many districts or centers were severely hit, this fresh evaluation aims to eliminate the information gap.

Meanwhile, calls for postponing the crucial public examinations for at least a week have intensified from all quarters. National Citizen Party (NCP) Northern Region Chief Organizer Sarjis Alam and Dhaka University's Jasim Uddin Hall Chhatra Dal Convener Sheikh Tanvir Bari Hamim issued separate statements on social media, urging Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milan to reconsider the schedule from a humanitarian standpoint. Both leaders emphasized that while shifting dates might cause minor academic calendar complications, forcing students to sit for life-defining examinations under traumatic environmental stress compromises their long-term future, arguing that student safety and equity must remain the government's top priorities.