Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s women’s division has extended heartfelt prayers and best wishes to students taking part in the 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC), Alim, and equivalent examinations across the country. The message was conveyed in a statement issued to the media on Thursday by the division’s secretary, MP Nurunnisa Siddika.

In the statement, Siddika described the examination as a vital stage in a student’s life, representing the culmination of long-term effort and preparation. She expressed hope that all examinees would approach the tests with confidence, honesty, and patience, placing their trust in Almighty Allah. She also urged parents, teachers, and others involved to ensure a calm and supportive environment for students.

Additionally, Siddika called on the relevant authorities to take all necessary measures to conduct the examinations smoothly, fairly, and free from malpractice. She prayed for the success and bright future of all examinees, asking for divine acceptance of their hard work and dedication.

A report published on July 2, 2026, highlights that despite Bangladesh’s growing female participation in education, employment, and social activities, widespread insecurity continues to hinder women’s advancement. From homes to workplaces and public spaces, women face harassment, violence, and discrimination that limit their freedom and opportunities. The article stresses that social awareness and accountability are essential to ensure women’s safety and empowerment.

The report identifies multiple areas where women experience insecurity, including educational institutions, public transport, and workplaces. It notes that harassment, stalking, and gender-based violence are common, often perpetrated by acquaintances as well as strangers. In workplaces, women face unequal treatment, long hours, and inadequate protection, particularly in the garment sector. The persistence of patriarchal attitudes and lack of effective enforcement of protective laws further exacerbate the problem.

The article concludes that sustainable national development is impossible without women’s safety and empowerment. It calls for safe, respectful, and equitable environments, improved education and skills training, and joint efforts from the state, society, and families to unlock women’s full potential.

Authorities have imposed Section 144 around Dhaka City College and all other examination centers to maintain order and prevent cheating during the ongoing Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations. The restriction, visible on banners at the Dhaka City College center on Thursday morning, prohibits gatherings of more than five people, rallies, or loudspeaker use within 200 yards of the centers from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily during the exams. Law enforcement agencies are maintaining strict surveillance to ensure a secure and fair environment for examinees.

The 2026 HSC and equivalent exams began nationwide on Thursday morning under all general education boards with a unified question paper. Written tests will continue until August 8, followed by practical exams by August 15. For the first time in the country’s history, the exams are being conducted under CCTV monitoring. A total of 1,270,583 students from 9,439 institutions are participating across 2,697 centers, 145 of which have been marked as vulnerable, including 40 in Dhaka.

Education officials stated that all preparations have been completed to prevent question leaks and ensure transparency. If any irregularities occur, the affected day’s exam will be postponed and rescheduled nationwide.

The 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations began across Bangladesh on Thursday at 10 a.m. The written exams will continue until August 8, followed by practical tests concluding by August 15. For the first time in the country’s history, the exams are being held under CCTV surveillance. A total of 1,270,583 students from 9,439 institutions are participating at 2,697 centers, an increase of 22,766 candidates from the previous year.

Among the participants, 1,069,714 are from nine general education boards, while 200,869 are from madrasa and technical boards. The exams began with Bangla for general and technical boards and Quran Majid for the madrasa board. Authorities have marked 145 centers as vulnerable, including 40 in Dhaka, and issued 35 directives to ensure fair conduct.

Officials stated that all preparations have been completed to prevent question leaks and cheating. The education minister warned that if malpractice occurs, both students and institutional heads will face action. The government also announced plans to introduce a new curriculum at the primary and secondary levels from 2028, emphasizing culture and sports alongside academic learning.

The 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations will begin across Bangladesh on Thursday under nine education boards using a unified question paper. Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan announced that a total of 1,270,583 students will take part in the exams at 2,697 centers from 9,439 institutions. The exams will cover 77 subjects and be completed within 21 days. Regular classes will continue on non-exam days.

The minister said all centers are equipped with CCTV cameras, and a monitoring cell has been set up at the Education Ministry to oversee exams in real time from any part of the country. Police officers at exam centers will wear body cameras to reduce the risk of irregularities. Centers previously known for malpractice have been canceled, though some venues remain in remote and hilly areas to assist student access.

Compared to 2025, the number of examinees has increased, with 1,122 more male and 13,194 more female students participating this year.

The historic Muradnagar DR Government Pilot High School in Cumilla, established in 1858 and the only government high school in Muradnagar, is facing an acute shortage of teachers and staff. Key teaching positions, including head teacher, assistant head teacher, and subject teachers for physics, biology, and ICT, remain vacant. Administrative posts such as office assistant, computer operator, peon, cleaner, and night guard are also unfilled, severely disrupting academic and administrative operations.

According to school sources, the shortage has led to declining education quality and growing frustration among students, parents, and locals. The acting head teacher, Md. Moynal Hossain Sarkar, said the issue has been reported multiple times to higher authorities without effective action. Cumilla District Education Officer Rafiqul Islam confirmed the shortage and said efforts are underway to resolve it. Regional Deputy Director of Secondary and Higher Education, Mohammad Ariful Islam, stated that official applications would be recommended for prompt recruitment.

Local residents have urged authorities to fill all vacant positions quickly to restore the school’s long-standing educational legacy and reputation.

The Dhaka University Club has announced its executive committee for the 2026–2027 term. Professor Dr. Md. Selim Reza of the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology has been elected president, while Professor Dr. Md. Mohiuddin of the Institute of Business Administration has been chosen as general secretary. The announcement was made on Tuesday night by Election Commissioner Professor Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam.

The new committee includes Professor Dr. Md. Abul Kalam Sarkar and Professor Dr. A.F.M. Mostafizur Rahman as vice presidents, and Professor Dr. Md. Nazmul Hossain as treasurer. Joint secretaries are Professor Kazi Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman and Associate Professor Tahmina Khanam. Other members include faculty from various departments such as Information Science, Health Economics, Women and Gender Studies, Accounting, Graphic Design, Arabic, and Chemistry. University Accounts Director Mohammad Saiful Islam and several senior academics hold ex-officio positions.

Following the announcement, the newly elected leaders sought cooperation from all members to strengthen and make the club’s activities more dynamic and effective.

Dr. M. A. Halim Patwari has been elected president and Professor Dr. Mahmuda Akter general secretary of the new executive committee of the Dhaka University Accounting Alumni Association. The election took place on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 5 p.m. in the auditorium of the Faculty of Business Studies at the University of Dhaka during the association’s general meeting and election for 2026.

A 27-member executive committee was chosen for the 2026–27 and 2027–28 terms. Alongside the president and general secretary, Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, and Md. Kayser Hamid were elected as vice presidents, while Saiful Islam was elected treasurer.

The election marks the beginning of a new leadership term for the alumni association, which represents graduates of the university’s accounting department.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Obaidul Islam announced a long-term plan to transform the institution into a research-driven, innovation-oriented, and internationally recognized university. Speaking at the annual Senate session held at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban on Monday, he said the goal is to position Dhaka University among the world’s top 200 academic institutions. The plan, titled “Dhaka University Academic Plan (2026–2046),” outlines strategies for inclusive innovation, ethical leadership, research excellence, educational modernization, entrepreneurship, internationalization, and administrative efficiency.

The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the university’s recent achievements, including advancing 600 places to the 401–600 band in the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking 2026 and maintaining its position among the world’s top 600 universities in the QS World University Ranking 2027. Dhaka University also ranked 132nd in the QS Asia University Ranking 2026 and had 35 faculty members listed among the world’s top 2% scientists in 2025. He emphasized ongoing initiatives such as establishing a modern medical bioscience campus, international-standard hospital, and advanced research facilities in Purbachal.

The administration is also expanding digital transformation, online services, and alumni engagement, with plans to create two separate funds totaling Tk 2,000 crore for research and student welfare.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj said the government aims to improve the quality of primary education through effective collaboration with NGOs. Speaking as chief guest at the Geo-NGO Collaboration Dialogue held at BRAC Centre in Dhaka on Monday, he emphasized that meaningful change in education requires joint efforts from the government, administrative systems, and development partners.

Hajjaj stated that the government’s main goal in education reform is to enhance learning outcomes, focusing on five key areas: curriculum, teachers, administration, infrastructure, and technology. He added that initiatives are underway to make primary education more modern, efficient, and technology-driven, including transparent teacher recruitment and transfer systems, improved administrative capacity, digital monitoring, and tech-based management.

He further noted that with over 65,000 government primary schools nationwide, realistic, scalable, and sustainable initiatives are essential. The government plans to leverage NGOs’ field experience and innovative models, particularly to ensure education access for children with disabilities, pre-primary learners, non-formal students, urban migrants, tea garden communities, and marginalized groups.

The Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) has issued a recruitment notice for the 28th batch of its Ansar Battalion, inviting applications for the position of male sepoy. The online application process began on June 27 and will continue until July 19, 2026. Interested candidates can apply through the designated online portal within this period.

According to the announcement, applicants must have passed the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) or an equivalent examination and must be unmarried. Physical requirements include a minimum height of 5 feet 6 inches for general candidates and 5 feet 4 inches for ethnic minority candidates, with corresponding weight and chest measurements specified. Candidates must also have 6/6 vision. The age limit for applicants is between 18 and 22 years as of July 19, 2026, and affidavits for age proof will not be accepted.

The recruitment aims to strengthen the Ansar Battalion with qualified young men meeting the prescribed educational and physical standards.

A poor woman from Nizampur Union in Habiganj Sadar upazila was shocked after receiving an electricity bill of about Tk 25.7 million for the current month. The unusually high bill, issued in her name, caused widespread astonishment in the area and quickly spread across social media. Her family, who usually paid between Tk 100 and Tk 150 per month, were left confused and anxious about the massive amount.

Local residents began discussing the matter after seeing the bill, and many shared photos of it online, questioning how such an error could occur for a poor household. The incident drew attention to the local Palli Bidyut office, which later clarified that the bill resulted from a technical mistake during data entry.

Habiganj District Palli Bidyut General Manager Md. Zillur Rahman confirmed that a numerical input error in the computer system caused the issue. The bill was immediately corrected, and the customer will only need to pay the actual amount due.

The Bangladesh Technical Education Board has initiated the process to cancel teaching approval for 68 technical institutions in Chattogram due to a lack of student enrollment. Before the final decision, new admissions for the 2026–27 academic year have been suspended, and the heads of the institutions have been issued show-cause notices. The list of institutions under review has been published on the board’s website.

According to board sources, these institutions have remained inactive for years without student intake. Action is being taken under the Private Technical Education Institution Establishment, Teaching, and Accreditation Policy 2024, which allows the board to revoke approval if institutions fail to meet requirements such as enrollment, results, infrastructure, staffing, and equipment. The heads of SSC (Vocational) and Dakhil (Vocational) institutions must respond by July 22, while diploma institutions must reply by June 30.

Inspector Md. Al Masud Karim stated that the decision follows prolonged inactivity and non-compliance with policy conditions. Nationwide, 1,853 institutions have been served notices for similar reasons as part of efforts to ensure educational quality.

Bangladesh’s Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque informed Parliament that 8,486 teaching positions remain vacant in technical education institutions across the country. Out of 15,844 total posts, 7,074 teachers are currently employed. The minister said that requisitions for 2,204 vacant posts have already been sent to the Public Service Commission (PSC) for recruitment recommendations. The PSC has recommended 97 cadre and 349 non-cadre teachers under the 45th BCS, who will be appointed after police verification.

He added that promotions are also used to fill vacancies, but 4,131 promotable positions cannot be filled due to a lack of eligible personnel. The minister further announced that from the 2027 academic year, a new textbook titled “Technical Education” will be introduced for sixth-grade students in the general stream to enhance vocational awareness. Another book, “Learning with Happiness,” will also be launched to make learning more engaging and participatory.

The minister also discussed initiatives to address linguistic barriers among ethnic minority students through multilingual education programs and outlined government measures to resolve financial backlogs in teacher welfare and retirement funds.

In Kenya, a growing debate over language use in education is reshaping classroom experiences. Students like Lona Chepkemoi, who returned to study fashion design at a technical college in 2023, found new confidence when lessons were taught in her native Kalenjin language alongside Swahili and English. Her experience reflects a wider global issue highlighted by UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring report, which notes that nearly 40 percent of students worldwide are taught in languages they do not fully understand.

Kenya’s policy allows mother-tongue instruction up to grade three, after which English becomes the main medium. However, in practice, language use varies by region and teacher ability. Across Africa, colonial-era languages such as English, French, and Portuguese still dominate classrooms, even though many children speak different languages at home. UNESCO continues to advocate for mother-tongue-based multilingual education as key to improving literacy and learning outcomes.

Kenyan educators and students acknowledge the benefits of local-language instruction but also recognize the necessity of English for higher education and global employment. Balancing these competing needs remains a central challenge for the country’s education system.