Education Minister Dr. Ehsanul Haque Milan announced that the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations for 2027 will be held in December 2026. The decision aims to resolve the ongoing session backlog in the country's education system. The minister made the announcement on Saturday after a meeting at the Secretariat regarding the transfer policy for MPO-listed teachers and staff.

He explained that the government is determined to eliminate session delays affecting students’ academic progress. The disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and political circumstances had previously disorganized examination schedules. By advancing the SSC exams by about four months, the ministry seeks to restore the academic calendar to its regular rhythm.

The minister also mentioned that the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations would similarly be brought forward, though he did not specify when those exams would begin.

Nahida Brishti, a former student of Noakhali Science and Technology University (Nobiprobi) and a PhD researcher at the University of South Florida, has died in the United States. The university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Dr. Muhammad Ismail, expressed deep sorrow and condolences in a statement issued on Saturday, describing her as a talented and promising student from the 13th batch of the Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Department.

In his message, the vice-chancellor said Brishti’s untimely death was an irreparable loss to the university community. He called for strict punishment under U.S. law for those involved in her death and demanded compensation for her family. He also prayed for the eternal peace of her soul and strength for her bereaved family to endure the loss.

According to the report, Brishti and another Bangladeshi student, Jamil Limon, had been missing since April 16, 2026, from the University of South Florida. Later, both were confirmed dead. Brishti’s family home is in Faridpur district, and her death was confirmed by her brother Zahid Hasan Pranto and department chairman Professor Dr. Fateh Nur Robel.

Students from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) visited Purbadhala upazila in Netrokona on Saturday morning to collect field-level data. Around 10 a.m., they met with the acting Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Tasnim Jahan, who emphasized the importance of such activities for gaining real-world experience. The visit involved 103 third-year students from the Department of Agricultural Finance and Banking, accompanied by three teachers and four staff members.

According to the accompanying teachers, the field data collection aims to help students integrate theoretical knowledge with practical experience. As part of their educational tour, the students are engaging with local farmers and representatives of various financial institutions to gather information.

The collected data will later be used in research and academic activities, contributing to the students’ professional development and understanding of agricultural finance in real contexts.

Construction of the model mosque and Islamic cultural center in Fulgazi, Feni, remains incomplete even after eight years. Initiated by the Islamic Foundation in 2019, the project was planned on 40 decimals of land opposite the local upazila complex, with an initial budget of Tk 12 crore. The first contractor, Raju Enterprise, halted work soon after the foundation was laid. The Public Works Department later canceled the earlier tender and reissued a new work order in January 2024, raising the cost to Tk 14 crore. The joint contractors, Messrs Lucky Enterprise and Mohsin & Brothers, began work again on January 1, 2025, assisted by Aradhana Enterprise.

Despite the renewed effort, the project remains unfinished two months past the contractual deadline, with about 75 percent of the work completed. The main structure stands, but plastering, tiling, finishing, and road connection tasks are still pending. Site engineer Omar Faruk said finishing work is ongoing and may take four more months. Public Works engineer A.K.M.S. Shafiquur Rahman cited fuel shortages as a cause of delay but assured that efforts continue for timely completion.

Local worshippers have expressed frustration over the prolonged delay, while officials maintain regular supervision to expedite completion.

An SSC examination at Abul Kashem Nur Jahan Chowdhury High School in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, was conducted with the wrong question paper, leading to the expulsion of four individuals including the center secretary, Lutfor Rahman Manik. The incident occurred on Thursday during the Bangla Second Paper exam. Thirteen irregular candidates were mistakenly given the 2025 question paper instead of the 2026 version, and despite their protests, the exam continued for three hours.

After the exam, students reported the issue to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and the Secondary Education Officer. Following an investigation, the UNO permanently expelled the center secretary and three others. Nurul Alam was later appointed as the new center secretary, and Mohammad Harunur Rashid was assigned as the new superintendent.

According to Ukhiya Upazila Secondary Education Officer Mohammad Ullah, the exam could not be retaken since it had already been completed, but communication with the education board was underway to ensure proper consideration of the matter.

The National University of Bangladesh will hold its 2025–26 academic year undergraduate (honours) first-year admission test on Saturday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. across the country. Vice-Chancellor Professor A.S.M. Amanullah announced the schedule at a press conference in Dhaka on Friday. A total of 453,148 candidates will sit for the test against 452,875 available seats.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, 475,432 students initially applied for admission, of whom 453,148 confirmed their applications. As of April 23 evening, admit cards had been issued to 433,519 candidates. The test will be conducted in 880 colleges nationwide, including 375 public and 505 private institutions. There are 270,520 seats in public colleges and 182,355 in private ones.

A total of 138 examination centers have been prepared across the country, including 18 in Dhaka city and others in all divisions. The multiple-choice test will feature separate question sets for humanities (A and B), science (C and D), and business studies (E and F).

Dr. A F M Khalid Hossain, who served as Religious Affairs Adviser in Bangladesh’s interim government, has resumed his teaching career at Al-Jamiyatul Arabiyatul Islamia (Jiri Madrasa) in Patiya, Chattogram. On April 23, he began regular classes twice a week, teaching Tirmizi Sharif and Taherik at the Darul Uloom Deoband department. His return has been warmly welcomed by students and colleagues, who expressed pride in having him back.

According to the madrasa’s director, Maulana Khubaib bin Taiyab, Dr. Hossain had been teaching there since 2021 but paused his duties during his government service. Dr. Hossain said teaching remains his core identity and that he is happy to be among students again. He previously taught at the International Islamic University and served as a mosque khatib. During his advisory tenure, he was praised for returning surplus funds to Hajj pilgrims and ensuring fair management.

His return to academia after national service is seen as a source of inspiration within the religious education community.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has issued new instructions for secondary school heads to assist in the 'Notun Kuri Sports' April 2026 program. A notice signed by Professor Md. Shahidul Islam, Deputy Director (Physical Education), was published on the DSHE website on Thursday. According to the notice, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the program on May 2 at 3 p.m. at the Sylhet District Stadium, marking the nationwide start of the initiative.

The notice outlines six specific steps for school heads to implement. These include encouraging students aged 12 to 14 to register online or on-site, informing students and teachers during class time, posting notices on school boards, displaying approved banners at school gates, promoting the event on social media, and publicizing it on school websites.

The initiative is part of the government’s broader plan to promote sports development across Bangladesh, aiming to engage young students in organized athletic activities.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met with Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, founder of the World Literature Center, on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat. The meeting was attended by Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, State Ministers Ali Nawaz Mahmud Khaiyum and Bobby Hajjaj, and Prime Minister’s advisers Mahdi Amin and Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman.

Discussions focused on developing reading habits among students at primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels. It was decided that the government and the World Literature Center would work together to encourage reading among students. Senior officials from the World Literature Center and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs were also present at the meeting.

The collaboration aims to strengthen national efforts to promote a culture of reading and intellectual development among young learners across Bangladesh.

In Laxmipur, members of the Chhatra Dal distributed pure drinking water to SSC examinees on Thursday morning to help them cope with the extreme heat. The initiative took place before and after exams in front of several examination halls, where students were handed bottles of water. The municipal unit of the Chhatra Dal also arranged temporary rest areas for parents accompanying the students. The effort was organized under the leadership of municipal convener Abul Barakat Sourav.

Earlier, Chhatra Dal activists assisted students in finding their seats through a help desk at the start of the exams. Parents expressed satisfaction with the initiative, describing it as student-friendly and urging the group to continue supporting learners. Abul Barakat Sourav stated that the Chhatra Dal remains committed to helping students take their exams smoothly. Acting under the guidance of Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anny, the group distributed water, provided educational materials, and set up rest facilities for guardians.

Sourav added that such supportive activities for students will continue in the future.

On Thursday, the second day of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC), Dakhil, and equivalent examinations across Bangladesh, absenteeism and expulsions increased compared to the first day. According to the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee, 26,865 students were absent out of 1,492,806 registered candidates under 11 education boards, while 19 students were expelled for cheating. On the first day, 25,408 students were absent and only six were expelled.

The committee’s statement, signed by Professor Dr. Khondoker Ehsanul Kabir, chairman of the Dhaka Education Board, detailed that 12,316 absentees were from nine general boards, 12,150 from the Madrasa Board, and 2,399 from the Technical Board. The day’s exams included Bangla Paper II for SSC, Arabic Paper I for Dakhil, and English-2 for vocational students. The written exams began on April 21 and will continue until May 20, followed by practical tests from June 7 to 14.

The data showed varying absentee rates across boards, with the general boards averaging 1.10 percent absenteeism and the Madrasa Board recording 4.79 percent. The Technical Board reported 2,399 absentees out of 120,160 registered candidates.

Two teachers, including the exam center secretary, were dismissed in Uzirpur, Barishal, after an SSC examination was conducted using the wrong question paper. The action was taken by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Ali Suza following confirmation of the allegations. The dismissed individuals are center secretary Faruk Hossain and assistant teacher Khagen Mondal.

According to the report, the exam was mistakenly held with the 2026 question paper meant for regular students instead of the 2025 paper designated for irregular candidates. This error raised concerns about potential complications in the affected students’ results. The dismissal followed an investigation that verified the complaint.

Authorities stated that measures are being taken to ensure that students do not suffer academic consequences due to the incident.

A complaint has been filed against the Chuadanga Kamil Madrasa examination center for conducting the Dakhil (SSC equivalent) exam with the wrong question paper for about 22 to 25 minutes without granting sufficient extra time. The district administration has ordered the removal of the center secretary and the tag officer from their duties and is issuing show-cause notices against them.

According to the report, the incident occurred on Tuesday during the first-day exam of the Quran Majid subject. The exam was supposed to include 60 marks for written questions and 40 marks for multiple-choice questions to be answered on the main script. However, a 30-mark multiple-choice paper with a separate OMR sheet was distributed instead. After about 25 minutes, the center secretary acknowledged the error and promised to adjust the time, but students alleged that only four to five extra minutes were given.

Students and guardians expressed frustration, saying the mistake and insufficient time adjustment negatively affected performance. The additional deputy commissioner (Education and ICT) confirmed that disciplinary action was ordered after the issue came to the administration’s attention.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has issued a strict warning against transporting visit visa holders to Mecca during the Hajj season. The ministry announced that anyone found violating this rule could face a fine of up to 100,000 Saudi riyals. The restriction, which began on April 20 (1 Dhul-Qadah), will remain in effect until May 30 (14 Dhul-Hijjah). During this period, individuals holding visit visas are completely prohibited from entering or being transported into the holy city.

Authorities stated that violators will not only face financial penalties but also risk having their vehicles confiscated through court proceedings. This applies whether the vehicle owner is the driver or has partners involved in the offense. Citizens have been urged to report any violations related to Hajj and Umrah regulations by calling 911 in Mecca, Medina, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other regions.

The ministry assured that informants’ identities will remain confidential and that they will not face legal consequences. The measure aims to preserve the sanctity of Hajj and ensure the safety of registered pilgrims.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan announced that technical trade courses will be introduced in 1,000 madrasas across Bangladesh. He made the statement on Thursday, April 23, during the 20th day of the parliamentary question-and-answer session, presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram. The announcement came in response to a question from Comilla-4 MP Md. Abul Hasnat, who highlighted employment challenges faced by madrasa graduates outside religious institutions.

In his reply, the minister said the government aims to modernize madrasa education by including vocational and professional subjects in the curriculum. Alongside religious studies, students will have access to science, technology, IT, and English education. A committee under the Technical and Madrasa Education Division has already begun updating the curriculum to make it more relevant to current needs. The initiative aligns with the government’s election manifesto to ensure technical education for all.

The minister added that vocational courses have already been launched in 548 madrasas, and the new technical trade courses will be expanded to 1,000 more institutions in phases.