More than 11,000 students admitted under the proposed Dhaka Central University are facing severe uncertainty as the institution’s legal framework and structural setup remain incomplete nine months after its announcement. The government had decided to form the university by separating seven government colleges from Dhaka University, but the official ordinance has yet to be issued. Frustrated students staged demonstrations on Sunday, blocking administrative offices and demanding the start of classes and completion of admission formalities. Many complained of administrative confusion and lack of institutional identity. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has called a meeting with 26 stakeholders, including vice-chancellors, education experts, and journalists, to review the draft ordinance. Officials say the delay stems from disagreements over the university’s model and concerns about women’s education. Academics have criticized the decision to admit students before finalizing the university’s structure, urging the government to ensure their academic recognition immediately.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs of Bangladesh has officially completed the registration process for the 2026 Hajj season, confirming that 78,500 Bangladeshi pilgrims will be able to perform the pilgrimage next year. This marks a reduction of 48,698 pilgrims compared to the previous year’s quota, as Saudi Arabia had allowed 127,198 pilgrims in 2024. Rising costs have contributed to lower participation rates, with only about 85,000 pilgrims traveling in 2024 despite a higher quota. Registered pilgrims can now verify their information through the official Hajj portal (hajj.gov.bd) using their passport numbers, while a dedicated call center (16136) has been launched for assistance. The ministry stated that details on Hajj packages, training, and other preparations will be announced in phases. The Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) has introduced three private packages ranging from BDT 510,000 to 750,000, while the government has announced three packages priced between BDT 467,167 and 690,597. The 2026 Hajj is expected to take place on May 26, subject to moon sighting.

A fourth-year student of Jahangirnagar University’s International Relations department has filed a written complaint against Associate Professor Fazlul Halim Rana, alleging discriminatory behavior, unfair grading, and mental harassment. The complaint claims the teacher has repeatedly insulted students based on their appearance or madrasa background, labeling some as 'Shibir' or 'militants.' Several students testified that they received inconsistent marks despite similar answers and were subjected to verbal abuse and threats. The complainants demanded that the teacher be barred from evaluating final exam scripts, that all papers be re-evaluated independently, and that a neutral investigation committee be formed. They also sought a permanent policy to prevent personal or political harassment of students. In response, Professor Rana denied all allegations, calling them baseless and asserting that he has never discriminated against students in his 18-year teaching career. The university administration has yet to announce any formal investigation into the matter.

Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) has announced that its undergraduate admission test for the 2025–26 academic year will be held on January 23, 2025. For the first time, the exam will take place at two centers—RUET and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)—using identical question papers to facilitate applicants. The decision was made during RUET’s 154th emergency academic council meeting, chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor S.M. Abdur Razzak. The multiple-choice test will accommodate around 19,000 candidates competing for approximately 1,200 seats. Eligibility requires candidates to have achieved at least GPA 4.00 in SSC or equivalent exams in 2022 or 2023 and GPA 5.00 in HSC or equivalent exams in 2025, with minimum GPA 4 in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. GCE ‘O’ and ‘A’ level candidates must meet equivalent grade requirements. All final decisions regarding the admission process will be made by the steering committee.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has completed the registration process for the 2026 Hajj, confirming that 78,500 Bangladeshi pilgrims will be able to perform the pilgrimage next year. A ministry notice issued on Sunday, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Md. Tofiqul Islam, stated that registered pilgrims can now verify their information through the official Hajj portal (hajj.gov.bd) using their passport numbers. A dedicated Hajj call center (16136) has also been launched for inquiries and verification. The ministry said that with registration complete, details on Hajj packages, training, and other preparations will be announced in phases. In 2024, Saudi Arabia allowed 127,198 Bangladeshi pilgrims, but only 87,100 registered. Rising costs have led to a reduced quota for 2026. The Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) has announced three private packages ranging from Tk 510,000 to Tk 750,000, while the government has set three packages costing between Tk 467,167 and Tk 690,597. The 2026 Hajj is expected to take place on May 26, subject to moon sighting.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Finance has issued an urgent warning after a fake video featuring interim government finance adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed circulated on social media. The ministry stated that the video, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology to mimic the adviser’s voice and image, is entirely false and misleading. It accused certain interest groups of spreading the content on Facebook for promotional purposes. The ministry clarified that neither Dr. Ahmed nor the ministry has any connection with the statements made in the video. It further noted that the AI-generated manipulation aimed to create confusion among the public and harm the adviser’s reputation. Legal measures are being taken to remove the video and identify those responsible. Citizens have been urged to verify information before engaging in any financial transactions and to remain alert against deceptive online content.

The Bangladesh Madrasa Education Board has published the results of the Alim examination answer script re-evaluation for the current year. According to the results released on Sunday, November 16, at 10:30 a.m., 34 students have newly achieved GPA-5, while 45 students who had previously failed have now passed. A total of 9,781 students applied for re-evaluation, submitting 31,828 applications as some challenged multiple subjects. Overall, grade changes occurred for 85 students. The re-evaluation results are available on the Madrasa Education Board’s official website, and all applicants have also received their updated results via SMS. The process reflects the board’s effort to ensure fairness and transparency in the examination system, allowing students to seek review of their evaluated papers when discrepancies are suspected.

The Dhaka Education Board has released the results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent exam re-evaluation for 2024. Following the review, 201 students who previously did not achieve the highest grade have now obtained GPA-5, while 308 students who had failed have passed. A total of 89,671 students applied for re-evaluation, resulting in changes for 2,331 students and grade adjustments for 2,373. The original HSC results, published on October 16, showed a pass rate of 58.83% across 11 education boards, with 69,097 students achieving GPA-5. This marks a significant decline compared to the previous year’s 77.78% pass rate and 145,911 GPA-5 achievers. The re-evaluation results were announced on Sunday, November 16, at 10 a.m., and are available online through the respective education boards’ websites as well as via SMS notifications sent to applicants.

The results of the re-evaluation process for the 2025 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC), Alim, and equivalent examinations have been officially published in Bangladesh. The results were released simultaneously at 10 a.m. on Sunday, November 16, through the websites of nine general education boards, the Madrasah Education Board, and the Technical Education Board. Students who applied for re-evaluation will also receive their updated marks via SMS. According to the Inter-Education Board Examination Control Committee, a record number of applications were submitted this year, with 226,000 students requesting re-evaluation of 428,000 answer scripts. The highest number of applications came from the Dhaka Board, while the lowest was from the Barishal Board. Most re-evaluation requests were for English and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) subjects. Applications were accepted from October 17 to 23, following the initial result publication on October 16, with a fee of Tk 150 per subject. This year, 1.25 million students participated in the exams, with an overall pass rate of 58.83 percent.

The results of the 2025 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC), Alim, and equivalent examination re-evaluations will be released on Sunday, November 16, at 10 a.m., according to separate notices from the Dhaka Education Board and the Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board. Students who applied for re-evaluation will be able to check their results on the respective board websites and will also receive notifications via SMS. This year, a record number of applications were submitted—226,000 students requested re-evaluation for 428,000 answer scripts across 11 education boards. The Dhaka board received the highest number of applications, while the Barishal board received the fewest. The most re-evaluation requests were made for English and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) subjects. Applications were accepted from October 17 to 23, following the initial results published on October 16, with a fee of 150 taka per subject.

On Thursday, South Korea temporarily suspended all domestic and international flights for 35 minutes to ensure silence during the English listening section of the country’s highly competitive college entrance exam, known as the Suneung. Over 550,000 students took part in the nine-hour test, which plays a decisive role in determining university admission, career prospects, and social standing. Flights were grounded from 1:05 p.m. to 1:40 p.m., affecting about 140 flights, including 65 international ones. During this period, only emergency aircraft were allowed to operate. Authorities deployed police to help late students reach exam centers quickly, sometimes using motorcycles. Financial markets and offices opened an hour late to ease traffic congestion. The Suneung is a national event marked by strict discipline and cultural rituals, with many parents praying at churches or temples for their children’s success.

Bangladesh’s education system faces a growing disparity between government and MPO (Monthly Pay Order) teachers, despite both groups performing the same duties with similar qualifications. Government teachers enjoy higher salaries, housing and medical allowances, full festival bonuses, and pension benefits, ensuring financial stability and social respect. In contrast, MPO-listed teachers receive limited allowances, partial bonuses, and no full pension, with deductions made for welfare and retirement funds that are often delayed in disbursement. This economic and social inequality has created frustration among MPO teachers, many of whom have long demanded nationalization of their jobs or parity in benefits. The divide not only affects teachers’ morale but also threatens the overall quality of education. Observers argue that ensuring equal dignity and fair treatment for all teachers is essential for improving the nation’s education system and restoring respect to the teaching profession.

The admission test for first-year undergraduate programs under the Agriculture Cluster of nine universities in Bangladesh for the 2025–26 academic session will be held on January 3. Gazipur Agricultural University (GAKRUBI) will oversee the examination process this year, including technical and administrative coordination. The test will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. According to Bangladesh Agricultural University Registrar Dr. Helal Uddin, online applications through the ACAS system will open on November 25 and continue until December 15, 2026. Detailed instructions, seat plans, and admit card download information will be published later on the official ACAS website. The cluster includes nine agricultural universities across the country, such as Bangladesh Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, and Sylhet Agricultural University.

The Secondary and Higher Education Division of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Education has released a new policy for student admissions to government secondary schools for the upcoming academic year. The system will continue to use a centralized online digital lottery for student selection, application submission, fee payment, and result publication. Each class will admit a maximum of 55 students. The policy reserves 5% of seats for children of freedom fighters, 0.5% for children of ministry officials, and additional quotas for special needs students, twins, and siblings. Students can apply to up to five schools, and no admission tests will be held. The academic year will run from January 1 to December 31. The policy aims to ensure transparency, inclusivity, and efficiency in the admission process across the country.

The Secondary and Higher Education Division of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Education has released the new admission policy for government secondary schools, retaining the digital lottery system for the upcoming academic year. According to the policy, 63% of seats will remain under various quotas, including 40% for catchment area students, 5% for children of freedom fighters, 2% for students with special needs, and 1% for children of ministry officials, split equally between ministry and subordinate offices. The twin quota has been reduced to 2%, while the sibling quota increased to 3%. Students can apply to a maximum of five schools, and the entire process will be managed centrally through digital lottery. Online applications will run from November 21 to December 7, with the lottery scheduled for December 14 and admissions from December 17 to 21.