Bangladesh’s 11 education boards received more than 1.3 million applications for SSC and equivalent examination answer-script re-evaluation, creating a major operational challenge for the authorities. Applications were accepted from August 11 to 17, following results published on August 10. The boards are preparing additional staffing for the work, while Dhaka Education Board alone received about 400,000 applications, according to Inter-Education Board President and Dhaka Board Chairman Professor Syed Aktaruzzaman.

The SSC and equivalent pass rate this year was 62.25 percent across nine general boards and the madrasa and technical boards. Of 1,829,485 candidates, 1,138,877 passed and 690,608 failed. The number of GPA-5 recipients fell by 22,356 and was lower than in the previous five years. This year introduced answer-script re-evaluation, replacing the earlier review process that mainly checked tabulation sheets.

Education Minister Ehsanul Hoque Milon said re-evaluating every applicant’s script would be impossible and that a policy would be prepared to determine eligible scripts. Previous examiners and chief examiners will conduct the reviews, with marks added by computer code afterward. The process may take 15 to 20 days. Online applications cost 150 taka per paper.