Panchchar High School in Shibchar, Madaripur, has marked over a century of educational excellence, evolving from its 1920 founding as 'The Panchchar High English School' into a model institution blending traditional learning with modern technology. Established by a group of visionary youths led by Dhirendranath Chatterjee, the school has produced generations of accomplished alumni, including national leaders, educators, and professionals.

Currently hosting 950 students, the school features digital classrooms, a library, and sports facilities, while maintaining strong academic results — achieving a 100% pass rate in the 2025 SSC exams with 21 students earning GPA-5. Principal Md. Shah Alam Siraji highlighted the school’s commitment to inclusive education, offering free tuition and uniforms to underprivileged students. However, he noted the need for additional classrooms and a new computer lab to meet growing demands.

School board president and former national football coach Sajjad Hossain Siddiqui emphasized preserving the institution’s legacy and ensuring continued academic excellence as Panchchar High School advances toward becoming a fully smart educational model.

Jahangirnagar University has commenced its 2025–2026 academic year admission tests, starting with the ‘C’ unit covering the Faculties of Arts and Humanities, Law, and the Institute of Comparative Literature and Culture. The exams began on Sunday, December 21, at 9 a.m., marking the start of a week-long admission process across multiple faculties.

According to the university’s central admission committee, 47,497 applicants have competed for 466 seats in the ‘C’ unit, translating to roughly 101 candidates per seat. The test is being conducted in six shifts—three for female candidates and three for male candidates—to ensure smooth management. Tests for other units, including ‘B’, ‘E’, ‘C1’, and ‘D’, will follow through December 29.

Officials said the large turnout reflects growing interest in Jahangirnagar University’s humanities and law programs. The admission process will conclude with the final ‘A’ unit examinations on December 29, after which results and merit lists are expected to be published in early January 2026.

Saudi Arabia has announced an increase in the number of annual scholarships for Bangladeshi students, raising the quota to 500. The announcement was made by the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh on December 19, 2025. The scholarships will be available across 30 public and 14 private universities, covering undergraduate, master’s, PhD, and diploma programs in ten disciplines including economics, business administration, education, law, politics, media, religion, language, agriculture, computer science, and engineering.

Applicants can now apply to three universities of their choice from a list of 25 institutions through a centralized system, replacing the previous requirement to apply separately to each university. Selection will be based on merit and specific quotas for foreign students. Participating universities include King Saud University, Islamic University of Madinah, and King Abdulaziz University.

The move is expected to strengthen educational and cultural ties between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, offering greater access to world-class higher education for Bangladeshi youth and supporting Saudi Arabia’s broader international education outreach.

The Islamic Arabic University has postponed the Fazil (Honours) 2024 examination scheduled for Saturday, citing unavoidable circumstances. The decision was confirmed on Friday by the university’s Controller of Examinations, Mohammad Ali. Authorities have stated that a new date for the exam will be announced later through an official notice.

The postponement affects thousands of students across Bangladesh who were preparing for the Fazil (Honours) examination under the university’s supervision. While the university did not specify the reason behind the delay, officials assured that the rescheduled date will be communicated promptly to minimize disruption. Students have been advised to monitor official channels for updates.

Education observers note that such postponements can impact academic calendars and student planning, especially during the year-end examination period. The university is expected to coordinate with affiliated colleges to ensure a smooth rescheduling process once the new date is finalized.

Dhaka University has postponed the 2025–2026 academic year undergraduate admission test for its science unit, originally scheduled for Saturday, due to a day of national mourning following the death of July revolutionary Sharif Osman Hadi. The university will observe the mourning day in line with the government’s declaration.

According to a statement signed by Acting Director of Public Relations Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, the decision was made out of respect for Hadi, a former student of the university, and other July revolution participants who were martyred during the 2024 mass uprising. The university emphasized that holding an exam on a national mourning day would be inappropriate.

Officials said a new date for the postponed admission test will be announced soon. The observance reflects the university’s continued recognition of the contributions of former students involved in the July movement and the broader democratic struggles in Bangladesh.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former student Sharif Osman Hadi, who passed away while undergoing medical treatment in Singapore. In a condolence message issued on Thursday night, the Vice-Chancellor prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and extended heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family.

Professor Khan described Hadi’s death as an irreparable loss for the country and society, noting that his memory would remain alive among classmates, well-wishers, and all who knew him. The university community has expressed collective grief, recalling Hadi’s contributions as a dedicated and promising student.

The Vice-Chancellor’s statement reflects the broader sense of mourning within the Dhaka University fraternity, which often honors the legacy of its alumni who contribute to academic and social life. No details were immediately available regarding funeral arrangements or official university tributes.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Education has issued an urgent directive instructing all private schools and colleges to collect tuition fees strictly in accordance with the revised student admission policy. The notice, signed by Deputy Secretary Syed A.Z. Morshed Ali from the Secondary and Higher Education Division, emphasizes adherence to the updated 2026 academic year guidelines.

According to the circular, institutions must follow the 2024 Tuition Fee Policy schedules A, B, and C when determining and collecting fees. The revised admission policy for private schools and colleges, covering secondary, lower secondary, and attached primary levels, was officially published on November 19, 2025. The ministry’s directive aims to ensure transparency and uniformity in fee collection practices across private educational institutions.

Education officials said the move seeks to prevent arbitrary fee hikes and protect guardians from financial exploitation. Schools have been asked to implement the policy immediately and report compliance to the ministry. Monitoring mechanisms are expected to be strengthened ahead of the 2026 academic session.

The High Court of Bangladesh has suspended the government primary school scholarship examination process for one month after a writ petition questioned its legality. The bench, comprising Justice Fahmida Kader and Justice Asif Hasan, issued the order following a preliminary hearing on December 14, 2025. The Directorate of Primary Education had earlier announced the exam schedule on November 11, with tests set to begin on December 21.

The writ was filed by Md. Faruk Hossain, director of Keraniganj Public Laboratory School, along with two parents, arguing that the exam violated a previous High Court ruling from November 3. Petitioners’ lawyer Niaz Morshed alleged that the government changed the exam’s name to exclude private school students, effectively breaching the earlier judgment. Ministry sources confirmed that the exams will remain suspended while the writ is under judicial review.

The suspension affects thousands of government primary students who were preparing for subject-wise tests in Bangla, English, Mathematics, and Science. The court’s decision is expected to prompt a review of the exam’s structure and inclusivity before any rescheduling.

The Government of Bangladesh has successfully completed the printing and distribution of 100 percent of pre-primary and primary-level textbooks for the current academic year ahead of Victory Day. The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) led the massive operation, marking one of the fastest and most comprehensive textbook deliveries in recent years.

According to a press release signed by Education Ministry spokesperson Khalid Mahmud, the achievement was made possible through coordinated efforts among printing houses, transport agencies, and NCTB officials. Over 850 million textbooks were printed and prepared before the academic year began, ensuring that all students from grades one to five will receive new books on time.

Officials described the completion as a milestone in Bangladesh’s education sector, reflecting the government’s commitment to improving primary education quality. The Education Ministry expressed hope that this timely delivery will enhance classroom readiness and strengthen the country’s education-friendly image globally.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has issued an urgent directive instructing all educational institutions across Bangladesh to organize sports, co-curricular, and cultural competitions throughout the year. The notice, signed by Deputy Director Professor Md. Shahidul Islam, outlines events such as football, volleyball, chess, cricket, and running under sports categories, while debate, quiz, and speech contests fall under co-curricular activities.

Cultural competitions will include Quran recitation, Nazrul and Rabindra songs, folk music, solo acting, dance, and graffiti drawing. The DSHE emphasized that such activities complement academic learning and play a vital role in students’ holistic development. Institutions have been asked to arrange these events on a house-based system, integrating them with regular class schedules.

The initiative aims to make school and college environments more dynamic and engaging, fostering teamwork, creativity, and leadership among students. Activities are set to begin in January and continue throughout the academic year.

Bangladesh’s National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) is racing to complete printing nearly 300 million textbooks for the 2025 academic year, but delays in tender processes have raised concerns about timely distribution. While all 90 million primary-level books have been printed and dispatched, printing for most secondary-level books has only recently begun, leaving publishers doubtful that all students will receive their books by January.

Printing industry representatives blame the delay on NCTB’s cancellation of earlier tenders for grades six to eight, which compressed the production timeline to just 50 days. Analysts warn that if students do not receive books at the start of the school year, learning outcomes could suffer. NCTB officials, however, remain optimistic that distribution will be completed on time.

Economic adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed downplayed fears of major disruption, saying all pending approvals have been finalized and only minor delays may occur. With national elections and religious holidays approaching, education experts urge swift government action to avoid setbacks in the learning process.

Students from the As-Sunnah Foundation’s ‘Medhabi Project’ blockaded the main gate of Jagannath University’s administrative building for nearly ten hours on Monday, demanding inclusion in the university’s special housing stipend policy. The protest, which began around 11 a.m., left the vice-chancellor, treasurer, and several officials confined inside the building until about 8:30 p.m.

The demonstrators presented three key demands: inclusion of Medhabi Project residents under the general housing stipend policy, replacement of merit-based criteria with need-based eligibility, and cancellation of the re-admission condition. During the prolonged protest, one student reportedly fell ill due to exhaustion and was taken to the university medical center. Protesters argued that they pay high accommodation fees but are unfairly excluded from the stipend.

University authorities have yet to issue an official response. The students vowed to continue their movement until their demands are met, warning of intensified action if ignored. The standoff highlights growing tension over housing affordability and equity in university welfare policies.

Dhaka Metro Rail services will be temporarily suspended for 40 minutes today, December 16, to ensure safety during a parachute jump demonstration at the old Tejgaon Airport area as part of Victory Day celebrations. The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) announced that operations will halt from 11:50 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Ahsan Ullah, Deputy Project Director (Public Relations) of DMTCL, confirmed the schedule, citing safety measures for paratroopers as the reason behind the short suspension. The authority expressed regret for any inconvenience caused to passengers and assured that services will resume immediately after the event.

The temporary halt reflects coordination between metro authorities and national event organizers to maintain public safety during the Victory Day festivities, which include military demonstrations and aerial displays. Normal metro operations are expected to continue smoothly following the brief interruption.

Mirsarai Upazila in Chattogram is facing a critical shortage of assistant education officers, with eight out of nine sanctioned posts currently vacant. The lone officer in service is expected to remain until January, leaving the local primary education office under severe strain ahead of upcoming merit evaluation exams, the national election, and the annual textbook festival.

The upazila, covering 482.88 square kilometers, includes 191 government primary schools, 45 kindergartens, two private primary schools, and six ibtedayi madrasas, serving around 34,000 students. Officials say the shortage of officers has disrupted regular school inspections and parent–teacher meetings, which previously helped maintain educational standards. Only one of six clerical positions is also filled, further hampering administrative work.

Upazila Primary Education Officer A.K.M. Fazlul Haque warned that managing so many institutions with minimal staff will be extremely difficult during the upcoming events. He urged immediate recruitment of assistant education officers to ensure smooth operations and maintain educational quality.

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) of Bangladesh has released a new directive regarding the syllabus for the 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations. According to the notice, irregular and grade-improvement candidates will continue to follow the 2025 revised syllabus, rather than a newly developed one. All education boards have been instructed to take necessary measures to implement this decision.

The Dhaka Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education confirmed the implementation through an official letter issued on Thursday, December 11. The letter clarified that the 2025 HSC, equivalent, and Alim examinations were conducted under the NCTB’s revised curriculum, and the same syllabus will remain valid for those retaking or improving their results in 2026.

Education officials say the move aims to ensure consistency and fairness for students who could not pass or wish to improve their grades. Further updates on any future curriculum changes are expected to be announced later by the NCTB.