Flood-Hit HSC Exams Proceed on DCs' Recommendation
Students board a boat to reach the examination hall at the Cumilla Government Women's College examination center.
Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations were held across Bangladesh on Monday despite days of heavy rainfall and widespread waterlogging. Many examinees waded through waist-deep water, while others relied on boats and rickshaws to reach their test centers. Persistent rain and flooded roads also delayed the arrival of many candidates.
A video from Cumilla showed waist-deep water covering the grounds of the Cumilla Government Women's College examination center and nearby roads after continuous rainfall. Many students walked long distances before boarding boats to enter the examination hall. After learning about the situation, Cumilla City Corporation Administrator Md. Yusuf Molla (Tipu), Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Ali Rajib Mahmud Mithun, and other officials arranged plastic boats and vans for the students. Authorities also moved the examinations to the second floor and higher levels instead of using ground-floor rooms because of the flooding.
Media outlets throughout the day highlighted the hardships faced by students and their guardians at examination centers in different districts. The situation later triggered widespread criticism on social media.
Responding to criticism over why the examinations were not postponed despite the adverse conditions, education boards said decisions to suspend examinations due to natural disasters or other emergencies are based on reports from local field administrations. The Ministry of Education decided to proceed with Monday's examinations after receiving the green light from deputy commissioners (DCs), who reported no obstacles to holding the tests, along with favorable forecasts from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. However, the Chattogram Education Board had already postponed its examinations until July 16 because of local disaster conditions. In places such as Cumilla, where flooding disrupted access, local authorities helped conduct the examinations, and delayed candidates were instructed to receive additional time.
Explaining the decision to continue the examinations during the flooding, Education Adviser Ehsanul Haque Milon told Agamir Somoy, "There are clear guidelines on how examinations should be conducted during disasters, and we made our decision accordingly. On Sunday, I held three rounds of discussions with divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, and education boards from morning until evening. We also received weather updates from the Meteorological Department. No deputy commissioner reported conditions that warranted postponing the examinations. The Meteorological Department also issued no forecast suggesting such a need. So how could I suspend the examinations? We decided to continue after receiving favorable reports from all deputy commissioners and divisional commissioners. The Chattogram Board examinations were postponed until July 16 solely based on recommendations from the local administration."
Referring to the situation in Cumilla, the adviser said, "We showed the highest level of compassion there. After one female student fell into the water and got soaked, dry clothes were brought from her home so she could sit for the examination. All centers had already been instructed to allow additional time for students who arrived late because of adverse weather. That instruction was followed wherever such situations occurred."
"If a particular examination center or its surrounding area becomes flooded, local authorities have the option of arranging an alternative venue or taking special measures to ensure candidates can safely reach the center. This year, however, no part of the country experienced a complete breakdown in transportation. In places such as Cumilla, the examinations were completed with support from the local administration," he added.
Milon acknowledged that holding public examinations during the monsoon has long been a challenge. He said the government is working to move both the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and HSC examinations to earlier in the year. A tentative schedule has already been announced for 2027, with SSC examinations set to run from January 7 to February 6 and HSC examinations from June 6 to July 13.
According to the adviser, the ministry is closely monitoring rainfall across the country, including in Dhaka. It is maintaining round-the-clock communication with deputy commissioners in all 64 districts and chairpersons of the education boards. He said the safety of examinees remains the highest priority and that authorities will make immediate decisions if necessary.
Education board officials said boards cannot independently suspend examinations because of floods or other major natural disasters. Such decisions are made after reviewing reports from the relevant deputy commissioners and divisional commissioners, weather forecasts from the Meteorological Department, and consultations with the Ministry of Education. The recent suspension of examinations under the Chattogram Education Board followed the same process.
Madrasa Education Board Chairman Khondkar Mohammad Sadekur Rahman told Agamir Somoy, "Madrasa Board examinations are held simultaneously across the country. Examinations in Chattogram were postponed in view of the local situation. However, we received no reports from deputy commissioners in any other district recommending suspension."
Dhaka Education Board Controller of Examinations Professor Jesmin Taslima Banu said decisions to suspend examinations are made based on reports from local administrations. "The deputy commissioners of the 13 districts under our board informed us that the conditions were suitable for holding the examinations. Based on those reports, we sought the ministry's decision to proceed. If any examination center had become unsafe because of waterlogging, the upazila administration could have informed us through the deputy commissioner so that alternative arrangements could be made. We remain on constant alert over this sensitive matter and are maintaining communication with the Meteorological Department and local administrations," she said.
Meanwhile, continuous rainfall on Monday morning submerged the grounds of the Cumilla Government Women's College examination center and surrounding roads under knee- to waist-deep water. Many candidates walked long distances before boarding boats to reach the examination hall. After being informed of the situation, Cumilla City Corporation Administrator Md. Yusuf Molla (Tipu), Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Ali Rajib Mahmud Mithun, and other officials arranged plastic boats and vans for the students. Authorities conducted the examinations on the second floor and above instead of using ground-floor rooms because of the flooding.
