The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh has placed the private European University of Bangladesh on its red list. The decision was formalized in a letter signed by Dr. Md. Sultan Mahmud Bhuiyan, Director of Private University Management at the UGC, and the directive was published on Thursday. According to the UGC website, the university appears at serial number 52 among private universities, now marked with three red stars.

The UGC cited several reasons for the red listing, including ongoing ownership disputes and legal cases involving the university’s Board of Trustees, admission of students beyond the approved capacity, and operation of academic activities on a campus built on less land than required under the Private University Act, 2010, even after twelve years. The commission also noted that the university had not complied with directives from the Ministry of Education and the UGC.

Among 116 private universities in Bangladesh, three others are similarly marked with three red stars on the UGC website. The commission stated that such markings are intended to alert students to exercise caution when seeking admission.

The government has appointed Professor Dr. Ekramul Haque as the 16th Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). The appointment was announced through a notification issued by the Ministry of Education on Thursday. Dr. Haque will replace the current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Abu Borhan Mohammad Badruzzaman. According to the official notice, his tenure will last four years from the date of joining or until his retirement, whichever comes first.

The circular further stated that the new Vice-Chancellor will serve as the university’s chief executive officer and must remain on campus full-time. The President, who also serves as the Chancellor of the university, retains the authority to cancel the appointment at any time if deemed necessary. Dr. Badruzzaman had assumed the role of Vice-Chancellor on August 5 following a government order issued after the fall of the previous administration.

Dr. Haque, a civil engineering professor at BUET, earned his PhD from the University of Tokyo in 1996 and has published over 50 research papers in international journals.

The government has appointed new vice-chancellors at 11 public universities in Bangladesh on Thursday, May 14, 2026. According to a circular issued by the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education, 10 universities received new vice-chancellors after the previous ones were relieved of their duties, while the position at Pabna University of Science and Technology had been vacant prior to the announcement.

The affected universities include the University of Barishal, Comilla University, Islamic University, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET), Jamalpur University of Science and Technology, Mawlana Bhashani University of Science and Technology, Noakhali University of Science and Technology, Pabna University of Science and Technology, and Rangamati University of Science and Technology.

The appointments follow earlier changes made to several public university leadership positions after the BNP government assumed power, reflecting continued administrative restructuring in the higher education sector.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj has said the current government views the education sector not as an expense but as a national investment. He made the remarks on Thursday morning at a program organized by Campaign for Popular Education at the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation conference hall in Agargaon, Dhaka. The event, titled “Remedial Education: Work Experience and Future Vision,” focused on support programs for underperforming students.

Hajjaj stated that despite regular attendance, many primary students still fail to achieve grade-level learning skills. Citing the National Student Assessment, he noted that around 50 percent of students are lagging behind and suggested the actual figure might be higher. To address this, the government plans to introduce remedial education programs using learning circles, community engagement, and technology-based content.

Campaign for Popular Education Executive Director Rasheda K. Chowdhury, who presided over the event, said Hajjaj’s book “The Learning Nation” outlines a comprehensive framework for education reform in Bangladesh, emphasizing modernization from primary to higher education, teacher training, and assessment systems.

The Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Boards have published the proposed schedule for the 2027 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations. According to the plan, the exams under the Dhaka, Rajshahi, Jessore, Comilla, Chittagong, Barishal, Sylhet, Dinajpur, and Mymensingh boards will begin on June 6, 2027. The first day will feature the Bangla First Paper exam, followed by Bangla Second Paper on June 8, English First Paper on June 10, English Second Paper on June 12, and Information and Communication Technology on June 14. Science subjects including Physics, Chemistry, and Biology are scheduled for June 17, June 23, and July 1 respectively. Theoretical exams will conclude on July 13, and practical exams must be completed by July 18.

Students are required to arrive at exam centers 30 minutes before the start time and use the designated answer sheets for theoretical tests. The boards have cautioned that the schedule may change as the 2027 institutional holiday calendar has not yet been finalized. The Engineering Drawing and Workshop Practice First Paper will be held at each student’s respective college.

The proposed schedule includes a total of 77 papers, with the entire examination process expected to take 21 days to complete.

The Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board has released the tentative schedule for the 2027 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations. According to the announcement issued on 14 May 2026, the nationwide exams will begin on 7 January 2027, a Thursday, and will start each day at 10 a.m. The theoretical exams will commence with the Bangla First Paper and continue until 6 February 2027.

The schedule specifies that English Second Paper will be held on 13 January, Mathematics on 16 January, and Bangladesh and Global Studies on 18 January. Examinations for key subjects in science, humanities, and business studies streams will conclude by early February. Practical exams, including music, will begin after the theoretical tests and must be completed by 11 February 2027. These will also start at 10 a.m. at respective centers.

The board noted that the schedule may change if necessary, as the 2027 academic holiday calendar has not yet been finalized.

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan has announced the dates for the 2027 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations. The SSC and equivalent exams will begin on January 7, 2027, and end on February 6, while the HSC and equivalent exams will run from June 6 to July 13. The announcement was made on Thursday, May 14, 2026, during a press conference at the Secretariat.

The minister explained that the exams were initially planned for December, but objections from stakeholders led to a revised schedule. After consultations, the ministry decided to postpone the exams to allow students more preparation time. Milan emphasized that the new timetable was designed to ensure adequate readiness for all examinees.

He also warned of strict monitoring to prevent question paper leaks and ensure smooth exam administration. Education boards have been instructed to take necessary measures to publish results within the scheduled timeframe.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan will hold a press conference on Thursday at 3 p.m. in the conference room of the Ministry of Education at the Secretariat to announce the final schedule for the upcoming SSC, HSC, and equivalent examinations. The ministry’s public relations officer, Abdullah Shibli Sadiq, confirmed the event to the media.

Earlier, the minister had indicated a preliminary plan to hold the 2027 SSC and HSC examinations by December of this year, which sparked widespread reactions among stakeholders. In response, the ministry convened a meeting on Wednesday with experts and stakeholders to reach a final decision. Participants in the meeting reportedly opposed holding the public examinations in December and instead suggested conducting the SSC exams in January and the HSC exams in June.

The final decision on the examination schedule is expected to be officially announced during Thursday’s press conference, following the recommendations discussed in the meeting.

Stakeholders have recommended holding the next Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination in January and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination in June instead of December. The opinion was shared during a meeting at the Ministry of Education in Dhaka on Wednesday, attended by Education Minister Ehchanul Haque Milan. The ministry is expected to announce a final decision soon.

Earlier, the minister had proposed conducting both public exams by December 2026, which drew widespread reactions. To address the concerns, the ministry held the meeting with education experts, parents, and school heads from various districts who joined virtually. Many participants warned that advancing the exams by four months could cause severe mental pressure on students and suggested a gradual adjustment of the academic calendar.

The education minister later told reporters that most stakeholders wanted the SSC exams to begin at the end of January and the HSC exams around June. He emphasized that the ministry aims to align the academic year to end in December while avoiding disruption to students’ progress and reducing session backlogs.

Bangladesh Railway has advised passengers to purchase advance train tickets for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha exclusively through its official 'Rail Sheba' mobile application to avoid fraud and harassment. The advisory, issued by the Ministry of Railways’ public relations officer Rezaul Karim Siddiqui, warned that fraudulent individuals are deceiving passengers on social media by promising to collect tickets on their behalf and then disappearing after receiving payments through mobile banking services.

According to the railway authority, tickets can only be purchased online using a registered ID through the designated app, with a maximum of four tickets per journey. Passengers must carry the registered mobile phone and photo ID during travel. The authority emphasized that buying tickets from any other source is illegal and may lead to punishment. Complaints about fraudulent activities can be reported to railway officials, law enforcement, or the hotline number 131.

Advance ticket sales for westbound trains began online at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, drawing around six million hits within half an hour. A total of 43 trains with 31,240 seats are operating for Eid travel, and additional special trains will run to accommodate passengers.

All levels of educational institutions across Bangladesh will go on an extended holiday from May 24, 2026, marking Eid-ul-Azha and the summer vacation. According to the official holiday schedule and academic calendar, government primary schools, government and private secondary schools, colleges, technical institutes, and madrasas will begin their break simultaneously. Students will effectively attend their last classes on May 21, as May 22 and 23 fall on the weekend.

The vacation for primary, secondary, and technical institutions will continue until June 4, with classes resuming on June 7 after the weekend of June 5–6. This gives students a total of 16 consecutive days off, including weekends. Madrasa students, however, will enjoy a longer break, from May 24 to June 11, reopening on June 14 after the weekend, totaling 23 days of vacation.

Separately, the government has declared a seven-day national holiday for Eid-ul-Azha from May 25 to May 31, with offices remaining open on May 23 and 24 before the official break begins.

A national workshop titled “Transformation of Higher Education in Bangladesh: Roadmap for Sustainable Excellence,” organized by the University Grants Commission (UGC), concluded in Dhaka with a set of key recommendations to strengthen research, innovation, and skills development in universities. The event, held at Dhaka University’s Nawab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building, brought together academics, researchers, industry representatives, policymakers, and civil society members. The recommendations include establishing career support centers, innovation hubs, and startup incubators, increasing budget allocations for education and research infrastructure, and making soft skills and ethics education mandatory.

Speakers emphasized the need to enhance research funding, expand PhD and postdoctoral opportunities, and create industry-financed research funds. They also called for improved teacher training, outcome-based education, and stronger university-industry collaboration. The workshop further proposed setting up technology transfer offices, international joint degree programs, and alumni-supported research funds to boost innovation.

The UGC chairman stated that the recommendations would serve as an effective roadmap for improving the quality, governance, and global competitiveness of Bangladesh’s higher education system.

Students and parents across Bangladesh are facing severe uncertainty following the education minister’s announcement that the 2027 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent exams will be held in December 2026. Despite only six months remaining, education boards have yet to receive any formal instructions from the government, raising doubts about whether the exams can be organized within such a short timeframe. Officials from the Dhaka and Madrasa education boards confirmed that no official directives have been issued, though mental preparation has begun.

The announcement, made by Education Minister Dr. Ehsanul Haque Milan in April, has sparked widespread concern among students, teachers, and parents. Frequent curriculum and schedule changes in recent years have already disrupted academic continuity, and the sudden advancement of exam dates has intensified pressure on students. Coaching centers are adding extra classes to complete syllabuses, leaving students physically and mentally exhausted.

Education experts and psychologists have urged the government to adopt a stable, long-term academic calendar and implement exam schedule changes gradually to reduce stress and prevent further disruption to students’ learning and mental health.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Primary and Mass Education is implementing multiple initiatives to modernize and improve the quality of primary education. Secretary Md. Sakhawat Hossain said the government is focusing on foundational literacy and numeracy, teacher training, and technology-based learning. He noted that while the student-teacher ratio is satisfactory, disparities remain between rural and urban schools, partly because many teachers prefer city postings.

To address this, the ministry is considering mandatory rural service for teachers during their careers and exploring the recruitment of para-teachers in remote areas. The government is also emphasizing moral and lifelong education, publishing research-based materials for teachers, and introducing digital tools such as projectors in over 65,000 schools to enhance classroom learning.

Hossain added that Bangladesh has raised its foundational literacy and numeracy rate from 32 to nearly 50 percent in 18 months, aiming for 70 percent this year and over 90 percent next year to align with global standards. These measures are intended to create skilled, ethical, and globally aware citizens through a more equitable and technology-driven education system.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasized that without a time-appropriate education curriculum, it will be difficult for Bangladesh to remain competitive globally. Speaking at the University Grants Commission’s national workshop at Dhaka University’s Senate Building on Tuesday morning, he said students must focus on innovation rather than rote learning. The workshop was inaugurated to discuss the development and sustainable transformation of the country’s higher education system.

Rahman stated that the government aims to nurture talent instead of allowing brain drain, preparing students to face future challenges. He noted that unemployment remains high due to a lack of skill development alongside academic learning, and that efforts are underway to modernize the academic syllabus. The government plans to introduce innovation grants from college to university levels and make technical education mandatory from the school level.

He also called on educators to engage alumni established at home and abroad in advancing education and research, warning that reliance solely on traditional learning would make survival in a competitive world increasingly difficult.