Chittagong Board HSC Exams Delayed by a Month, Raising University Admission Prep Concerns

The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations under the Chittagong Education Board are concluding nearly a month later than the rest of the country due to earlier flood-related disruptions. While students in other educational boards have already finished their exams and begun university admission preparations, Chittagong board examinees are still facing remaining written papers, triggering deep anxiety regarding their competitive prospects.

The deferred written examinations for the Chittagong Board are scheduled to begin on August 20 and conclude on September 9. Consequently, these students will have significantly less time to prepare for university admissions compared to their peers nationwide. Already, major institutions like Dhaka University and Jagannath University have announced their undergraduate admission schedules for the 2026–27 academic year.

Dhaka University's general admission committee announced that online application submission will commence on November 11. The admission tests are already scheduled with the IBA unit on December 5, the Science unit on December 12, the Arts, Law, and Social Science unit on December 19, the Fine Arts unit (general knowledge and drawing) on December 22, and the Business Studies unit on December 26.

Similarly, Jagannath University finalized its admission test dates during a special academic council meeting, setting Unit A exams for January 1, Unit E for January 8, Unit B for January 15, Unit C for January 22, and Unit D for January 23, 2027. All tests will be conducted in a multiple-choice question (MCQ) format in Dhaka.

Chittagong board students expressed frustration over the compressed timeline. Sheikh Rahad, an HSC examinee from Chittagong College, noted that the delayed exam schedule severely hampers their competitive preparation for university seats. Nusrat Jahan from Cox's Bazar Government College and student Sakib Chowdhury echoed similar concerns, emphasizing that the lingering stress of exams amidst a delayed finish puts them at a distinct disadvantage compared to candidates from other boards.

The initial delay stemmed from severe post-flood conditions in early July, which prompted the Ministry of Education to suspend exams under the Chittagong board to protect student safety and manage severe road transport disruptions. Although exams resumed later under a revised routine—with other general, madrasa, and technical boards wrapping up their exams between August 1 and August 8—Chittagong board students were left behind.

Education sector stakeholders have urged flexibility. Lecturer Kutub Uddin Tushar of Mahajanhat Fazlur Rahman School and College pointed out that the post-exam period is critical for admission coaching, and universities should consider extending timelines by at least a month to offset the disadvantage.

Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee President and Dhaka Board Chairman Prof. Dr. Syed Akhteruzzaman stated that discussions will be held with the Ministry of Education to explore whether universities can coordinate schedules to ensure fair treatment for affected students. However, Additional Secretary Md. Mahbubul Haque Patwary of Education Ministry noted that no official ministry decision has been finalized yet.

Meanwhile, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof. Dr. Mamun Ahmed stated that universities currently operate independently or through cluster systems, and the commission is closely observing the situation. He added that while the UGC has no immediate plans for separate interventions, appropriate measures will be considered if severe systemic concerns arise.