The Dhaka Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education has released the 2025 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) scholarship list. The announcement, made on Sunday, December 7, details that 456 students have received merit scholarships and 3,032 have been granted general scholarships. The list is now available on the board’s official website.

Earlier, the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education issued an official order on November 26 outlining the distribution of merit and general scholarships across nine education boards based on the 2025 HSC results. According to the directive, a total of 1,125 students nationwide will receive merit scholarships, while 9,375 will receive general scholarships.

Recipients of merit scholarships will receive a monthly stipend of BDT 825 and an annual grant of BDT 1,800, while general scholarship holders will get BDT 375 per month and a yearly grant of BDT 750. The initiative aims to encourage academic excellence and support students’ continued education.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Education has released a new ‘Private Educational Institutions (School and College) Manpower Structure and MPO Policy 2025’, introducing major changes for non-government schools and colleges. The policy, published Sunday by the Secondary and Higher Education Division, allows inclusion of honors and master’s level teachers under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme and revises institutional eligibility indicators. Each class must now have at least 55 students for MPO consideration.

Deputy Secretary Syed A.Z. Morshed Ali said the policy updates BEd scale eligibility, permitting teachers with degrees from private institutions affiliated with the National University or University Grants Commission to receive the benefit. The policy also formally abolishes the senior lecturer post and consolidates earlier amendments. Clause 24 emphasizes professional ethics, prohibiting coaching business and notebook dependency among MPO teachers.

Education stakeholders view the reforms as a step toward standardizing teacher qualifications and institutional accountability. Implementation is expected in 2025, with monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance and quality improvement across private education institutions.

A tense standoff erupted at Baharampur DB Anwara Government Primary School in Rajshahi on Sunday when parents barred assistant teachers from entering the school to conduct exams. The teachers had returned after a weeklong work stoppage but found the gates locked by angry parents, who proceeded to administer the students’ annual exams themselves.

Parents accused the teachers of neglecting their duties and disrupting the academic schedule through repeated strikes, claiming this had harmed students’ learning outcomes. Education officials later intervened, mediating between both sides and allowing the teachers to re-enter the school once the exams had already concluded. Witnesses reported that parents supervised the tests for several subjects during the morning.

Teachers defended their absence as part of a centrally organized protest and expressed frustration at being denied entry. The headteacher confirmed that the misunderstanding was resolved after official mediation, but the incident highlights growing tensions between educators and parents over accountability and the impact of teacher movements on primary education quality.

Train operations on the Dhaka–Mymensingh route returned to normal two hours after a mechanical failure halted services near Sripur in Gazipur on Saturday evening. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. when the engine of the Dhaka-bound Balaka Commuter train broke down near Satkhamaoir area, disrupting rail communication between Dhaka and Mymensingh until the engine was recovered at 6:40 p.m.

According to Sripur Railway Station Master Md. Shamim, several trains experienced schedule disruptions during the outage, but departures gradually resumed after the faulty engine was removed. Witnesses reported that the train’s engine emitted a loud noise shortly after leaving Kawraid Station, followed by oil leakage that alarmed passengers, prompting many to disembark quickly. Railway and police officials arrived at the scene to assess the situation.

Authorities have confirmed that normal operations have resumed, though minor delays persisted into the evening. The incident highlights ongoing maintenance challenges in Bangladesh’s rail network and the need for improved engine reliability and emergency response mechanisms.

A section of Rajshahi University’s 60th, 61st, and 62nd batches of former students have declared a boycott of the university’s 12th convocation, citing dissatisfaction with the selection of guests and the event’s timing. The announcement came at a press conference held on December 6, where alumni alleged that their opinions were ignored in the decision-making process. University authorities, however, stated that there is no scope to revise the decision.

The convocation, rescheduled for December 17 after two postponements, will feature Education Adviser C.R. Abrar as president and Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud as a guest. Alumni representatives said they had requested reconsideration of the guest list and reopening of registration but received no response. They also demanded transparency regarding the use of convocation fees and related funds.

University officials confirmed that preparations are nearly complete and reaffirmed that the event will proceed as planned. The dispute underscores growing tensions between alumni and administration over inclusivity and transparency in major university events.

The Islamic Arabic University (IAU) has commenced the four-year Fazil Honors examinations across Bangladesh from Saturday, December 6. The exams cover first to fourth-year students in subjects including Al-Quran and Islamic Studies, Al-Hadith and Islamic Studies, Dawah and Islamic Studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Islamic History and Culture, and Al-Fiqh and Islamic Studies. Around 12,500 students are participating at 92 examination centers nationwide.

Exam Controller Mohammad Ali stated that strict measures will be taken against any form of malpractice during the examinations. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Shamsul Alam reported that the exams are proceeding in an orderly and peaceful manner. He emphasized the university’s monitoring efforts to ensure fairness and urged cooperation from students, teachers, and guardians to maintain a cheating-free environment.

The successful conduct of these exams is seen as crucial for maintaining academic integrity within the country’s madrasa education system, reflecting the university’s commitment to transparency and discipline in higher Islamic studies.

The University of Dhaka successfully conducted the 2025–2026 academic year admission test for its Faculty of Business Studies undergraduate program on Saturday, December 6. The exam took place from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. across multiple centers in Dhaka and four other divisional cities—Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Rangpur. A total of 34,062 candidates sat for the test, competing for 1,050 available seats.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan, accompanied by senior university officials, visited the examination centers and expressed satisfaction over the smooth and disciplined conduct of the test. He noted that the competition was intense, with roughly 33 candidates vying for each seat. The Vice-Chancellor urged parents not to exert undue psychological pressure on their children, emphasizing that admission success is not the sole measure of capability.

Of the total seats, 930 were allocated for business studies students, 95 for science students, and 25 for humanities students. The results are expected to be announced after the evaluation process concludes.

In Noakhali, 243 government primary schools failed to hold their third-term exams due to an ongoing complete shutdown by assistant teachers demanding fulfillment of three key demands. The District Primary Education Office has issued show-cause notices to all teachers involved, citing violation of government service laws and negligence of duty. Officials stated that teachers ignored directives to conduct scheduled exams and even locked school premises, disrupting students’ education. Teachers have been asked to submit written explanations within three working days, or face departmental action. Meanwhile, over 50 teachers leading the movement have reportedly been transferred to other districts, including the president of the Bangladesh Primary School Assistant Teachers’ Association. The strike, which began on November 27, has affected around 65,000 government primary schools across the country, with teachers continuing their indefinite shutdown demanding better pay and service benefits.

Jahangirnagar University has officially renamed several of its residential halls, including one now dedicated to Felani Khatun, a Bangladeshi girl killed by Indian border guards in 2011. The decision was confirmed by Registrar B.M. Azizur Rahman Mukul on Friday, following a syndicate meeting that approved new names for four halls previously named after members of the Sheikh family.

According to the new resolution, Sheikh Russell Hall has been renamed Nabab Salimullah Hall, Sheikh Hasina Hall is now July 24 Jagoroni Hall, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall becomes Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq Hall, and Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall is renamed Shaheed Felani Khatun Hall. The move follows months of student protests demanding the removal of political family names from university facilities.

The renaming has drawn attention across academic and social circles, seen as a symbolic gesture toward inclusivity and historical recognition. University officials indicated that the changes aim to reflect national diversity and honor figures representing broader social struggles.

Jahangirnagar University has officially decided to rename four of its residential halls that were previously named after members of the Sheikh family. The decision was confirmed by Acting Registrar A.B.M. Azizur Rahman on Friday, following a syndicate meeting held on Thursday. According to the new naming decision, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall has been renamed Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq Hall, Sheikh Russel Hall is now Nawab Salimullah Hall, Sheikh Hasina Hall has been renamed July Twenty-Four Jagoroni Hall, and Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall is now Shaheed Felani Khatun Hall. The university administration stated that the new names will come into official effect once the syndicate’s approval process is completed. The move marks a significant change in the university’s hall naming policy and has drawn attention within the academic community.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has begun a large-scale military exercise in the Persian Gulf, showcasing advanced artificial intelligence–enhanced defense and attack systems. The drill, codenamed 'Martyr Mohammad Nazeri,' spans the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman, and includes deployment of modern air defense systems such as Nawab, Majid, and Misagh. These systems reportedly use AI to rapidly detect and strike aerial and naval targets with high precision. The exercise sends a dual message—peace and friendship to neighboring states, but a stern warning to the United States and other adversaries against any missteps. The IRGC emphasized its readiness to counter any threat, highlighting Iran’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities. The drill comes amid a long history of Iran-US naval confrontations in the region, with Iranian officials reiterating that hostility from the US and Israel has intensified since the Islamic Revolution. Tehran claims its recent military buildup is a direct response to perceived threats and past attacks on its nuclear and defense infrastructure.

The Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) has officially opened the application process for the 50th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination from December 4, 2025. According to the circular issued on November 27, a total of 2,150 positions will be filled, including 1,755 cadre and 395 non-cadre posts. Applicants aged between 21 and 32 years as of November 1, 2025, are eligible to apply. The online application must be submitted through the BPSC or Teletalk websites by December 31, 2025, with a fee of BDT 200, or BDT 50 for candidates from small ethnic groups, persons with disabilities, and third gender applicants. Candidates must provide academic details, NID or birth certificate, a recent photo, and signature in specified formats. The PSC has also outlined conditions for correction, eligibility for provisional candidates, and special arrangements for applicants with disabilities requiring scribes. No re-evaluation of preliminary test answer sheets will be allowed.

Government primary school teachers in Bangladesh have decided to start annual examinations from Sunday, despite ongoing protests and recent transfer orders. The decision was confirmed late Thursday by Md. Mahbubur Rahman, a convener of the Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council. He stated that although the teachers’ movement continues, they chose to proceed with exams to avoid harming students’ academic progress. Earlier in the day, teachers had requested the Directorate General and the Secretary to exempt exams from the protest’s scope. However, later they learned that several protesting teachers had been transferred. Rahman emphasized that while the work stoppage will continue, examinations will remain unaffected. He added that teachers are committed to ensuring students’ welfare, even as they continue to demand recognition of assistant teachers in the 10th grade. Parents in some areas reportedly pressured teachers to resume exams, though most agreed that a two-day delay would not significantly disrupt the academic year.

The Ministry of Education in Bangladesh has introduced new eligibility conditions for appointing principals, vice principals, head teachers, and assistant head teachers in private educational institutions. Under the revised MPO policy, candidates with a third division at any stage of their academic career will be deemed ineligible. The updated policy has received final approval from the ministry and is awaiting publication as an official gazette, likely within a week. Additionally, the ministry has finalized the decision to recruit institutional heads through the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA). The amended regulations stipulate that recruitment will involve examinations, though the distribution of marks between written and oral tests will be determined by the NTRCA board. While a 100-mark evaluation was proposed by the policy revision committee, the final policy leaves this decision to NTRCA’s discretion. The move aims to ensure merit-based and standardized recruitment in private education management.

Rajshahi University has suspended three teachers and expelled five students following various allegations of misconduct. The decisions were made during the university’s 544th syndicate meeting held on December 2. Associate Professor Dr. Anik Krishna Karmakar of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering was suspended for three years and barred from exam-related duties for ten years. Professor Dr. Prabash Kumar Karmakar of Statistics and Associate Professor Mohammad Hedayet Ullah of Finance were also suspended pending further investigation. Two students had their studentship canceled, one was permanently expelled, and two others were suspended for one year. The disciplinary actions stem from incidents including alleged unethical relations and extortion involving a faculty member and students. University officials stated that final decisions on permanent termination of the teachers will depend on the findings of a new inquiry committee. The names of the punished students have not been disclosed for confidentiality reasons.