Rajshahi University has announced that classes for first-year undergraduate students of the 2025–26 academic session will begin on May 10. The information was confirmed on April 7 by Professor Mohammad Belal Hossain, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Coordinator of Unit 'A'. He stated that the admission process is currently ongoing and will conclude before classes commence.

According to university sources, the process of filling in subject preferences for successful candidates began on February 22. So far, the second subject choice lists for Units 'A', 'B', and 'C' have been published. The admission tests for this session were held earlier in January, starting with the 'C' Unit (Science) on January 16, followed by the 'A' Unit (Humanities) on January 17, and the 'B' Unit (Commerce) on January 24.

This year’s admission tests were conducted in two shifts across public university campuses in Rajshahi, Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rangpur, and Barishal divisions, with no selection phase included.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan described the Ministry of Education as his place of devotion and criticized the previous government for neglecting the sector. Speaking as chief guest at a meeting with exam center secretaries organized by the Barishal Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, he announced plans for unified question papers across all boards and reforms to ensure transparency in public examinations. He also emphasized strict monitoring and warned of punitive action against examiners involved in irregularities.

The minister said the government aims to allocate 5 percent of GDP to education in the next budget to address shortages and improve quality. He announced plans to eradicate illiteracy within a year and proposed establishing one agricultural university in each division. Milan also mentioned that online and offline classes would be introduced in metropolitan schools, with a formal report to be submitted to the Prime Minister on Thursday.

He reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward corruption and misconduct in education, stressing that transparency and discipline among teachers and students are essential for maintaining academic integrity.

The results of the 47th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) written examination have been published. According to a press release signed by Masuma Afreen, Controller of Examinations (Cadre) of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC), a total of 3,631 candidates have passed. The oral examinations for the successful candidates are scheduled to begin in May.

The written tests were held from November 27 to December 18 of the previous year across eight divisional cities, including Dhaka. The BPSC stated that the complete results and related information are available on its official website (www.bpsc.gov.bd). The commission also noted that it reserves the right to make corrections to the results if necessary for valid reasons.

The announcement marks a key step in the 47th BCS recruitment process, moving the successful candidates closer to the final selection phase through the upcoming oral examinations.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan announced that all future public examinations in Bangladesh will be conducted with a single set of question papers across all education boards. He made the statement on Tuesday while addressing a views-exchange meeting organized by the Barishal Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education at Barishal Shilpakala Auditorium.

The minister emphasized that no compromise will be tolerated in the evaluation of answer scripts and directed officials to ensure fair and transparent assessment. He warned that any negligence or irregularity in marking will result in strict disciplinary action. The meeting, attended by officials from Barishal, Madrasa, and Technical Education Boards, discussed administrative and strategic issues related to upcoming examinations.

Dr. Milan also mentioned that the government is working to introduce both online and offline classes in metropolitan educational institutions. A formal report based on stakeholder opinions will be submitted to the Prime Minister on Thursday for review before a final decision is made. The minister reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward maintaining discipline and transparency in the education system.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan MP has announced that the upcoming SSC and equivalent examinations in 2026 will be held nationwide in a completely cheating-free, transparent, and disciplined environment. He warned that any irregularities or negligence in the evaluation of answer scripts would not be tolerated, and strict action would be taken against examiners if proven guilty. The minister made these remarks on Monday while addressing a meeting with center secretaries of the Mymensingh Education Board and the region’s Madrasa and Technical Education Boards.

He emphasized that examiners must strictly follow the prescribed guidelines to ensure fair evaluation, as any bias or negligence negatively affects the education system. The minister stated that ensuring cheating-free examinations is a top government priority and urged all concerned to perform their duties with utmost sincerity. He also highlighted the importance of maintaining discipline at every stage of exam management.

Dr. Milan further informed that the Public Examinations (Offences) Act, 1980 is being updated to prevent question leaks, fraud, and cheating in both public and government recruitment exams.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Boby Hajjaj said the government has no plan to close primary schools or shift to online classes despite the ongoing measles outbreak and energy crisis. He stated that the ministry prefers continuing in-person education and is not considering online learning at this stage. Hajjaj made the remarks on April 6 after inspecting infrastructure and educational activities at several primary schools in Dhaka.

He explained that no final decision has been made regarding school closures, and the ministry is working to maintain normal academic activities. The government is also preparing to introduce several new initiatives in the education sector by June or July, with field-level preparations already underway. The minister emphasized that the government is prioritizing physical infrastructure improvements in schools and has instructed heightened health precautions for students.

Hajjaj added that online classes are not very effective for young children, so the ministry will continue face-to-face teaching. He assured that the government will take further measures based on expert advice if the health situation worsens.

The government of Bangladesh is set to implement major reforms in the recruitment process for heads and assistant heads of private educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and madrasas. According to a notice issued by the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) on Sunday, April 5, 2026, the long-standing appointment method will be replaced by a centralized examination system.

The NTRCA stated that this is the first time since independence that a central exam-based system is being introduced for these key positions to ensure transparency and accountability in recruitment. Under the new system, appointments to vacant posts across the country will be made based on merit and qualifications. Currently, there are 12,951 vacant positions to be filled under this new process.

To provide further details about the new recruitment method, exam structure, and the ongoing hiring process, the NTRCA will hold a press conference on April 7, 2026, at 10 a.m. in the office of its chairman, Md. Aminul Islam, who will present the implementation plan and respond to media queries.

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon said no final decision has yet been made regarding the introduction of online classes in educational institutions due to the global energy crisis caused by the war situation in the Middle East. He made the remarks on Sunday, April 5, at the Secretariat while speaking to journalists.

The minister stated that a decision on implementing online and offline classes will be made within this week. Meetings with stakeholders are scheduled to take place in the next couple of days, followed by a final decision at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday. Earlier, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani had said that the final decision on the matter would be known on Sunday, April 5, in light of the ongoing global energy challenges.

The government’s consideration of mixed-mode classes reflects its response to the energy crisis affecting educational operations, with a final policy direction expected soon.

Bangladesh’s government is expected to announce today, Sunday, the final decision on whether educational institutions will conduct classes online, offline, or in a hybrid format. The move follows a global energy crisis triggered by the ongoing war in Iran, which has affected fuel supplies in Bangladesh. Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani shared the update during a briefing after Thursday night’s cabinet meeting.

Following a 40-day holiday for Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr, schools reopened on March 29. However, due to the energy shortage, partial online teaching has been proposed to reduce pressure on fuel consumption. The education ministry is set to issue separate directives starting Sunday, ensuring that academic activities are not disrupted. The cabinet also approved duty-free import of electric buses for schools, while commercial imports will face a 20 percent duty.

An education ministry official said no final decision has yet been communicated from the cabinet division. A previous plan considered six-day weeks with three days online and three days in-person, with practical classes held physically.

Flight operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka were temporarily suspended for about 15 minutes on Saturday night after a line light on the middle of the runway was found damaged. The incident occurred around 7:45 p.m., according to airport sources. The runway light, which guides pilots along the central path during takeoff and landing, was reported broken and displaced by a Novoair pilot after landing.

Following the report, air traffic control immediately closed the runway in line with international safety protocols to prevent any risk of accidents. During the closure, a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Kolkata was instructed to circle in the air, while flights of Emirates Airlines to Dubai and another to Muscat experienced temporary schedule disruptions.

The damaged light was quickly repaired, and flight operations resumed after about 15 minutes. Airport authorities stated that the temporary suspension was necessary to ensure passenger safety.

Bangladesh’s Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan announced that installing CCTV cameras will be mandatory in every educational institution to ensure teachers’ timely presence in classrooms. He also declared that all coaching centers must be shut down and that unregistered kindergartens operating under various banners will be brought under government registration. The minister made these remarks on Saturday at a meeting with examination center secretaries in Comilla ahead of the 2026 SSC and equivalent exams.

Milan stated that even if the pass rate is zero this year, no institution’s MPO status will be canceled, but leniency will not continue from next year. He warned that if any cheating occurs during exams, the center secretary and institution head will be held accountable, including for materials found in restrooms. Teachers manipulating exam scripts will face legal action under new laws applicable to all exams, including job interviews.

The minister emphasized that the Ministry of Education is a place of devotion and urged teachers to fulfill their duties sincerely, describing their role in shaping students as a continuous act of virtue.

A severe traffic jam spanning about 10 kilometers developed early Thursday on the Dhaka-Chattogram-Sylhet highway, causing significant suffering for commuters. Witnesses reported that vehicle movement slowed across several sections of the highway from morning, eventually turning into a long tailback that affected both office-goers and long-distance travelers.

According to Md. Julhas Uddin, in-charge of the Highway Police’s Shimrail Camp, two separate road accidents and a vehicle breakdown occurred late at night on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. These incidents led to heavy congestion from Meghna to Signboard. Similarly, traffic on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway became gridlocked from Rupshi to Kanchpur Bridge, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded.

Highway police later reached the spots and removed the disabled vehicles, after which traffic movement gradually began to return to normal, officials said.

The admission test for the cluster-based 'B' unit of the 2025–2026 academic session began today at Islamic University (IU). The one-hour examination is being held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. across six academic buildings on the campus. A total of 9,133 candidates have been allocated seats at the IU center for the test under the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Many applicants arrived at the venue nearly two hours before the scheduled start time.

To assist examinees and guardians, several active student organizations have set up help desks at the university’s main gate, offering pens, water, chocolates, saline, and medicines. The university administration has strengthened a four-tier security system to ensure smooth conduct of the exam, with coordinated deployment of Ansar, RAB, and police personnel. Members of the BNCC and Rover Scouts are also on duty at key points under the supervision of the proctorial body.

According to the university’s proctor, Professor Dr. Shahinuzzaman, candidates are entering the centers normally, and all necessary security measures have been taken to maintain an orderly environment.

The Dhaka Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has issued an urgent set of 31 directives to all exam center secretaries ahead of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations beginning on April 21, 2026. The instructions, signed by Exam Controller Professor S M Kamal Uddin Haydar, outline detailed procedures for handling question papers, maintaining exam security, and ensuring proper conduct during the tests.

According to the directives, irregular and improvement candidates will sit for exams based on the 2025 syllabus, while regular candidates will follow the 2026 syllabus. The guidelines emphasize strict verification of question paper packets, secure transportation with police presence, and prohibition of mobile phones except for the center secretary’s non-camera device. Each exam hall must have at least two invigilators, and seating arrangements must adhere to specific spacing rules. The board also mandated the use of approved calculators only and required that all classes remain closed during exam hours.

The instructions aim to prevent question leaks, ensure fairness, and maintain discipline across all centers under the Dhaka Education Board’s jurisdiction.

Rail communication between Sylhet and the rest of Bangladesh resumed on Thursday afternoon, 18 hours after five wagons of an oil-carrying train derailed at Shahpur in Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj. The incident occurred around 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday on the Dhaka-Sylhet route, halting train services. Operations restarted at about 4 p.m. Thursday after extensive recovery work by railway authorities, army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and police.

According to railway officials, the train was transporting fuel from Chattogram to Sylhet when the derailment took place near Monatola station. One wagon fell into a roadside ditch, while others tilted off the track. Locals gathered at the site, and some attempted to collect spilled oil before law enforcement intervened. BGB later recovered about 1,000 liters of oil. No casualties were reported.

A five-member inquiry committee led by the divisional transport officer has been formed to determine the cause and extent of damage, with a report due within three working days. Three intercity trains were canceled due to the disruption, though services have now resumed.