Member of Parliament Monirul Haque Chowdhury of Cumilla-6 attended a class with seventh-grade students at Didar Model High School in Cumilla Sadar on Monday morning. He joined the session to better understand classroom challenges and encourage students to take greater interest in their studies. During the class, assistant teacher Shamima Nasrin was teaching Kazi Nazrul Islam’s poem 'Kuli Majur'. The MP listened to the lesson, interacted with students, and assured them of addressing their concerns.

Following requests from students, Monirul Haque Chowdhury pledged to construct a new building for the school. Teacher Shamima Nasrin expressed her delight at having an elected representative in her classroom, saying it motivated both her and the students. She noted that the students confidently explained the poem’s meaning before the MP.

Chowdhury emphasized that to increase children’s interest in education, schools must nurture joy in learning and be run by qualified, dedicated teachers. He also discussed the poem’s meaning with the students to deepen their engagement with the lesson.

The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations for 2026 are set to begin across Bangladesh on Tuesday, April 21. A total of 1,857,344 students will take part in the exams, which start with the Bangla First Paper. Written tests will continue until May 20, held daily from 10 a.m., followed by practical exams from June 7 to June 14. Examinations will take place at 3,885 centers nationwide.

According to official data, more than 1.4 million students are registered under nine general education boards, over 300,000 under the Madrasa board, and more than 134,000 under the Technical Education Board. Among the total candidates, 930,305 are male and 927,039 are female, marking a decrease of about 71,626 from the previous year.

Each subject will include multiple-choice and creative sections, except for Information and Communication Technology. Students must arrive at least 30 minutes before the exam, carry their admit cards, and are prohibited from bringing mobile phones. Passing separately in multiple-choice, creative, and practical parts is mandatory.

The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations for this year will begin on Tuesday and continue until May 20. Education boards and exam centers have completed all necessary preparations. A total of 1,857,344 students are set to take part across the country, including 1,418,398 under nine general education boards, 304,286 under the Madrasa Education Board, and 134,660 under the Technical Education Board.

Compared to last year, the total number of SSC and equivalent examinees has decreased by 70,837, continuing a downward trend seen in previous years. However, the number of Dakhil examinees under the Madrasa Board has increased from 286,572 last year to 304,286 this year. The Madrasa Board will conduct exams across 742 centers from 9,125 institutions. Among the general boards, Dhaka has the highest number of candidates at 366,650, while Barishal has the lowest at 81,831.

This year’s exams will be held at 3,885 centers nationwide, involving 30,666 institutions. Authorities have finalized all arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of the examinations.

Maulana Faruq, a senior elder and member of the Ahle Shura of Tabligh Jamaat Bangladesh, passed away on Sunday evening at the National Institute of Neurosciences in Agargaon, Dhaka. He was 74 years old at the time of his death. The news was confirmed by Habibullah Raihan, media coordinator of Tabligh Jamaat Bangladesh Shura-e-Nizam. Maulana Faruq hailed from Peyarapur area of Sadar upazila in Lakshmipur district.

His death has cast a shadow of grief across the religious community in Bangladesh. He had long played a significant role in the Tabligh Jamaat’s missionary and religious activities, contributing to its organizational and spiritual work. Following the announcement of his passing, expressions of sorrow spread among devout followers and associates across the country.

The report did not mention details about funeral arrangements or official statements from the organization beyond confirmation of his death.

The first Hajj flight from Chattogram for the 2026 pilgrimage season was inaugurated by State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin on Sunday evening at Shah Amanat International Airport. The flight, operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carried 371 pilgrims and departed for Jeddah at 6:30 p.m., officially launching this year’s Hajj operations from the port city.

During the inauguration, the state minister said the government is working to provide the best possible services for Hajj pilgrims and to improve air travel facilities. He noted that the Prime Minister had earlier inaugurated the Hajj flights in Dhaka and personally reviewed pilgrims’ concerns. The event was attended by airport officials, including Director Sheikh Abdullah Al Mamun and Biman’s Chattogram District Manager Al Mamun Faruk.

Officials stated that all preparations for smooth Hajj operations from Chattogram have been completed. A total of 16 special Hajj flights are planned this year, including 12 direct flights, to be operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudi private carrier Flynas.

On Saturday in Jibannagar upazila of Chuadanga district, women were seen standing in long queues at local fuel pumps to collect diesel. The move came as families sought to reduce the workload of male members who were spending entire days waiting for fuel, disrupting their agricultural and other daily activities. At the Angan Filling Station in Santoshpur, women waited with diesel cards and bottles alongside men.

Several women explained that their husbands’ time at the pumps prevented them from working in the fields or operating vehicles used for transporting agricultural goods. By taking their place in line, the women aimed to ensure that household and farming activities continued without interruption. One woman said her husband could now focus on fieldwork while she waited for fuel.

According to the station manager, both men and women were being served, with a system that provided fuel to one woman after every five men. Similar scenes of women’s participation were reported at other pumps in the upazila.

The Imam-Ulama Council has initiated a plan to establish an Islamic University (Jamia) on abandoned land valued at Tk 500 crore in the suburban area of Gaibandha. On April 16, the council submitted an application to the district commissioner seeking allocation of 20 bighas of recovered land from a 60-bigha abandoned plot in Gobindpur mouza under Gaibandha Sadar police station. The proposed university will operate under the supervision of the Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasa Education Board and focus on higher studies in Hadith, Islamic law, and Tafsir.

According to the application, the project also includes plans for skill development training, a drug rehabilitation center, a large Eidgah ground, a Tablighi center, and other religious and social facilities. Hundreds of local worshippers signed a public petition supporting the initiative, which was formally submitted to the district administration. The district commissioner reportedly welcomed the proposal and assured necessary administrative action after field verification.

The land in question has remained unutilized for 17 years despite previous administrative investigations and media reports since 2009. The council now seeks official allocation to develop the proposed Islamic University and associated institutions.

The Ministry of Education in Bangladesh has officially abolished the long-standing 'silent expel' rule from public examinations. The decision followed instructions from Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan, who directed the immediate removal of the provision. The Dhaka Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education issued a notice on Saturday night confirming that Article 29 of the 2026 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Examination Policy, which contained the silent expel clause, is now void.

Earlier that day, during a virtual meeting on ensuring fair conduct of SSC, HSC, and equivalent exams, the minister ordered the cancellation of the practice. He explained that the rule originated from an outdated 1961 policy and had no basis in the 1980 Public Examination Act. The minister emphasized that no unreasonable regulation should exist in exam procedures and that students should not face measures harming their mental well-being.

The decision marks a significant policy shift aimed at modernizing examination governance and ensuring a more transparent and student-friendly environment in Bangladesh’s public exams.

The Dhaka Education Board has issued new instructions regarding entry to examination centers ahead of the 2026 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent exams, which begin on April 21. According to a notice signed by Exam Controller Professor S M Kamal Uddin Haydar, center secretaries have been requested to allow examinees to enter the centers from 8:30 a.m. to reduce traffic congestion and public inconvenience around exam venues. Previous instructions regarding entry into exam rooms will remain unchanged.

Separately, the Ministry of Education has abolished the long-standing 'silent expulsion' rule from the SSC examination policy following a directive from Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan. The Dhaka Board announced that Section 29 of the 2026 SSC Examination Conduct Policy, which contained the provision, is now void. The minister stated that the rule originated from an outdated 1961 guideline and had no basis in the 1980 Public Examination Act.

The minister emphasized that examinations should be held in a positive environment and that no regulation should negatively affect students’ mental health.

The education board has issued an urgent directive requiring all examination centers to submit detailed information regarding CCTV cameras and officials responsible for receiving question papers. According to the notice released on Sunday, April 19, centers must send CCTV camera IDs and passwords, along with the names, addresses, and mobile numbers of teachers and staff collecting question papers from the treasury, to controller@dhakaeducationboard.gov.bd within office hours.

The directive has been labeled as 'highly urgent' and aims to ensure proper monitoring and security during the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations. As per the published schedule, this year’s SSC and equivalent exams will begin on April 21 with the Bangla First Paper test. Written exams will continue until May 20, followed by practical exams from June 7 to June 14.

The instruction underscores the board’s emphasis on maintaining transparency and preventing irregularities during the national examination process.

According to the Hajj management portal of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, a total of 78,500 Bangladeshi pilgrims will travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj in 2026 under the country’s allocated quota. Of them, 65 percent are men and 35 percent are women. Dhaka Division has the highest share of pilgrims at 36.37 percent, while Barishal Division has the lowest at 3.03 percent. Flights carrying pilgrims began on Friday night, with 4,565 traveling under government management and 73,935 under private agencies.

The ministry’s data shows that 32.68 percent of pilgrims are aged between 50 and 60 years, while 5.94 percent are over 70. Chattogram Division accounts for 20.2 percent of pilgrims, followed by Rajshahi with 13.13 percent, Rangpur with 8.08 percent, and Khulna with 7.07 percent. Sylhet and Mymensingh each contribute about 6 percent.

Professionally, 40 percent of this year’s pilgrims are businesspeople, and 31 percent are homemakers. Private-sector employees make up 10 percent, while government employees, teachers, doctors, and students each represent 1 percent. Farmers account for 5 percent, retirees 3 percent, and others 6 percent.

The National Moon Sighting Committee of Bangladesh announced on Saturday that the moon for the Islamic month of Zilkad, 1447 Hijri, was not sighted anywhere in the country. As a result, the month of Shawwal will complete 30 days on Sunday, and the counting of Zilkad will begin on Monday. The decision was made during a meeting held at the Baitul Mukarram office of the Islamic Foundation in Dhaka, chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Munshi Alauddin Al Azad.

The committee reached its conclusion after reviewing reports from all district administrations, the Islamic Foundation’s headquarters and regional offices, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, and the Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO). Senior officials and religious scholars, including the Director General of the Islamic Foundation, A. Salam Khan, and the Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Mufti Abdul Malek, attended the meeting.

The announcement formally sets the beginning of Zilkad in Bangladesh’s Islamic calendar, aligning national observances with the lunar cycle confirmed by the committee.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed strict security measures ahead of the 2026 SSC, Dakhil, and Vocational examinations scheduled to begin on April 21. According to a public notice signed by Acting Commissioner Md. Sarwar, entry of anyone other than examinees and authorized personnel will be prohibited within 200 yards of all examination centers in the capital.

The DMP stated that the restriction is being enforced under the powers granted by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance to ensure that the examinations are conducted in an orderly and peaceful manner. The order will remain effective on examination days during the test hours.

Authorities said the decision aims to prevent any form of disturbance near the centers and to allow students to take their exams without disruption.

The regional round of the 'Skills and Innovation Competition' for the Sylhet region was held on 17 April 2026 at Sylhet Polytechnic Institute. Students from 14 technical institutions presented 42 innovative projects, with three selected for the national round in Dhaka. The chosen projects were Smart Home Eco System from Sylhet Polytechnic Institute, Face Detector from Moulvibazar Polytechnic Institute, and Smoke and Fume Controlling Welding Helmet from Habiganj Government Technical School and College.

The event was organized under the Accelerating and Strengthening Skills for Economic Transformation (ASSET) project of the Directorate of Technical Education, Ministry of Education. Labor and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury attended as chief guest, emphasizing the importance of technical education and skilled workforce development. The secretary of the Technical and Madrasa Education Division also highlighted that technical education is now a mainstream necessity.

A colorful rally, seminar, and award ceremony accompanied the competition, attended by officials, educators, students, and community members. The national round will be held next month in Dhaka, featuring around 50 projects from eight regions.

Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon announced that this year’s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations will begin on July 2. He also stated that there will be no silent expulsion or quiet dismissal during the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) or equivalent exams. The announcement was made on Saturday afternoon.

According to the report, the SSC examinations for this year are scheduled to start on April 21. The Examination Management Policy 2026 has been published, outlining the responsibilities of examinees, exam procedures, duties of center secretaries and officials, disciplinary rules, penalties for cheating, and result publication guidelines. The policy was released on April 12 on the website of the Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board.

The education ministry’s announcement confirms the exam schedule and updated management policy for 2026, aiming to ensure transparency and discipline in the national examination process.