An opinion article published on April 18, 2026, argues that two-shift primary schools are more suitable for Bangladesh than the traditional single-shift model. The author highlights that the country’s limited infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, and resource constraints make it difficult to ensure quality education for all children. The two-shift system, where one group attends in the morning and another in the afternoon, allows better use of existing facilities and reduces the need for immediate new construction.

The article outlines several advantages of the two-shift approach, including reduced classroom congestion, expanded enrollment opportunities, cost savings, and flexible schedules for students. It also notes that this system can help marginalized and working children attend school more easily, while enabling more efficient teacher deployment. Additionally, the model can temporarily relieve pressure in densely populated urban areas without major infrastructure expansion.

Although not a permanent solution, the two-shift system is described as an effective interim strategy that allows the government to gradually improve educational infrastructure while ensuring that no child is left behind in the current resource-limited environment.

The Chatmohar Model Government Primary School in Pabna, originally founded in 1922 as Sreeshchandra and Raghunath Primary School during British rule, remains one of the oldest educational institutions in the region. Established by the Hindu aristocrats of the Barobari family, the school began with tin-roofed classrooms on 15 decimals of land and served as the first formal primary school in Chatmohar. It later expanded to eighth grade and played a key role in spreading education among local children. The school was nationalized in 1973 and renamed to its current title.

Former students recall its contributions to the community, noting that many alumni became doctors, engineers, and government officials. The school also had active participation from students during the 1952 Language Movement and the 1971 Liberation War. Currently, it has 317 students from grades one to five.

Despite its long history, the school faces severe infrastructure shortages. Only six classrooms exist where nine are needed, and the principal lacks a separate office. Local education officials have proposed relocating the adjacent resource center and constructing a new multistoried building to resolve space constraints.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj stated that there is no discrimination against private school students in the primary scholarship examination. He made the remarks on Friday morning after visiting the examination center at Badshah Faisal Institute in Mohammadpur, Dhaka. The minister explained that opportunities are allocated proportionally, with one in eight government school students and one in five private school students eligible to sit for the exam, ensuring equal access.

According to the Directorate of Primary Education, a total of 640,000 students participated in this year’s exam, including about 550,000 from government schools and 90,000 from private institutions. A total of 82,500 scholarships will be awarded, with 66,000 going to government school students and 16,500 to private school students. The scholarship ratio stands at 8:1 for government schools and 5.5:1 for private schools.

The minister added that the exams were being conducted smoothly nationwide and that the scholarship process encourages students and parents to stay engaged in the curriculum. He also mentioned plans to update the scholarship policy and review the number of beneficiaries and stipend amounts to ensure maximum equity.

The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority has granted a commissioning license for the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Ishwardi, Pabna, marking a key step toward initiating fuel production. The license was approved after all required inspections were completed. Project Director Kabir Hossain confirmed that the government will now set the official date for uranium fuel loading, expected to begin by the end of April.

Authority Chairman Mahmudul Hasan stated that an earlier plan to inaugurate the process on April 7 was postponed due to technical complications, which have since been resolved to ensure maximum safety. Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited Managing Director Dr. Zahedul Hasan said essential preparatory work, including fire safety clearance, has been completed, and the project is ready for safe fuel loading.

According to experts cited in the report, the plant will undergo at least six months of trial production after fuel insertion, with commercial generation unlikely before September. The project aims to start gradually supplying electricity to the national grid by December.

The Ministry of Education has dismissed as false a rumor circulating on social media and online portals claiming that the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination schedule would not be released to prevent cheating. In an official statement issued on Friday, the ministry clarified that no such decision had been made and that the reports were entirely baseless.

According to the ministry, a fabricated news item had spread online suggesting that students would only learn their exam subjects upon entering the examination hall. The ministry emphasized that this information was untrue and urged the public not to believe or share such misinformation.

The clarification aims to prevent confusion among students and parents ahead of the upcoming SSC examinations, ensuring that official updates will continue to come directly from the ministry.

Jahangirnagar University has resumed its campus–Chandra bus service after nearly two years of suspension, following an initiative by the university’s central student union (JAKSU). The service was officially inaugurated on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 3 p.m. near the central Shaheed Minar road. The event was attended by university officials and student leaders, including the vice president, general secretary, and transport secretary of JAKSU.

JAKSU leaders stated that the resumption followed prolonged discussions with the university administration to address students’ transportation needs. They expressed gratitude to the administration and treasurer for their cooperation. The general secretary hinted that another route would be launched next week and mentioned ongoing efforts to automate the transport system with a sustainable live tracking app for students.

At the inauguration, the university’s vice-chancellor (education) Professor Dr. Sohel Ahmed emphasized that the bus service is exclusively for students and must ensure full road safety. He noted that the transport sector is one of the university’s most expensive areas, currently operating 12 double-decker and 5 large buses through outsourcing.

The first unit of Bangladesh’s Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has received its commissioning license after overcoming various obstacles, allowing the facility to begin the process of electricity generation. Project Director Dr. Kabir Hossain confirmed the development on Thursday, April 16, 2026. The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority granted clearance for the fuel loading license, paving the way for uranium loading in the first unit by the end of April. If all goes as planned, phased electricity supply could begin by December.

Authority Chairman Mahmudul Hasan stated that although the ministry initially planned an inauguration on April 7, critical issues delayed the process. He emphasized that the decision to postpone fuel loading was made to ensure maximum safety, given the project’s scale and potential risks. Hasan assured that all safety measures are being rigorously implemented and expressed confidence that no accidents would occur.

Located in Ishwardi, Pabna, the 2.4-gigawatt Rooppur plant is Bangladesh’s first nuclear power facility, built with assistance from Russia’s Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation. The project’s timeline was extended in February 2024 to 2027.

A serious error has been reported in the admission results of Rajshahi University’s 2025–26 academic year for the first-year undergraduate ‘C’ unit under the non-science section. Despite achieving the required passing marks, hundreds of students were incorrectly marked as failed, sparking anger and concern among students and parents. The issue arose after the results were published, with many affected candidates claiming they were denied further admission opportunities.

According to the source, the pass mark for both science and non-science sections was set at 40. However, the science section required separate minimum scores in compulsory and optional parts, a condition not applicable to the non-science section. Allegedly, the same rule was mistakenly applied to non-science candidates, causing many to fail. Several quota students, including those under player and freedom fighter categories, were also affected.

University officials acknowledged receiving complaints. The ICT Center director confirmed the issue, while the ‘C’ unit coordinator and the vice-chancellor (academic) stated that a meeting on April 19 would decide on result corrections. Affected students and guardians have demanded immediate revision and republication of the results.

A mass wedding ceremony for 63 orphan brides from Rangpur and Sylhet regions was held in Sylhet city, organized by the UK-based expatriate organization Seeds of Sadakah (SOS). The event, conducted without dowry or expenses, took place on Thursday at a convention center in Baluchar, creating a festive and emotional atmosphere attended by guests from home and abroad. Organizers described the initiative as an act of compassion and social responsibility aimed at ensuring social security and dignity for underprivileged girls.

The ceremony was hosted by Dr. Redwanur Rahman and attended by Members of Parliament Raihan Siraji and Habibur Rahman Belal, along with Sylhet Press Club President Muktabis Un Nur. Representatives from SOS, Abul Khayer and Zainul Abedin Ruhel, also spoke. Speakers emphasized that dowry-free marriages are achievable and reflect Islamic teachings on simplicity in marriage. Islamic scholar Shah Waliullah officiated the marriages and led prayers for the newlyweds.

Each couple received household essentials, including furniture and utensils, to help start their new lives. The event was described as a symbol of hope, dignity, and love for the newly married couples.

Professor Dr. Mohammad Abu Zafar Khan, Vice Chancellor of the Islamic Arabic University, emphasized that ensuring good governance, transparency, and accountability is essential for improving the quality of madrasa education. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon at the closing ceremony of a two-day workshop titled 'Skill Development Training for Madrasa Principals 2026', organized by the university’s Kamil (Postgraduate) Education, Training and Research Center.

Addressing the participating principals, he urged them to establish computer labs, science laboratories, and libraries in their respective madrasas, and to organize subject-based seminars for teachers. He also highlighted the importance of motivating teachers and encouraging students to develop moral values and good behavior. To help students compete in the job market, he called for initiatives to strengthen proficiency in Arabic and English. He further stressed financial transparency, proper record-keeping, and prevention of wasteful spending.

The Vice Chancellor announced that the university is planning to set up regional centers to provide faster and easier support to affiliated madrasas and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to assist in the overall development of madrasa education.

Jagannath University has initiated a modernization project for its TSC area, located in front of the main gate, to create a more aesthetic and organized environment. The university administration plans to remove unplanned shops and construct new ones in a planned manner. According to a notice confirmed by Proctor Professor Dr. Mohammad Nasir Uddin on April 16, 2026, the rent collected from these new shops will be used for the welfare of financially disadvantaged students.

The notice stated that the modernization is part of a broader effort to beautify the main gate area. The administration has expressed sympathy toward existing shop owners, assuring that their updated list will be maintained and new shop allocations will be made under university supervision. Shop owners have been instructed to vacate the area by April 23, 2026, at noon, or face eviction in the presence of university and city corporation magistrates.

The proctor emphasized that the initiative responds to long-standing student demands and aims to create a clean environment similar to Dhaka University’s TSC. Discussions will also be held with a bank regarding land-related complexities.

The authorities have decided to reinstate the 'silent expel' system in this year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations to strengthen discipline and transparency. According to the recently issued examination management policy, a candidate may be silently expelled for violating rules or using unfair means even without being caught in the act. In such cases, the student will not be immediately aware of the expulsion, but their answer script will later be considered canceled.

The policy defines silent expulsion as a measure applicable when a candidate talks, turns their head, looks at another’s paper, or behaves suspiciously during the exam. Invigilators must record the incident in a confidential form and submit the reported answer script separately in a red-marked packet to the exam controller’s office. The reasons for silent expulsion must be detailed in the observer’s report.

The policy further states that silently expelled students may continue to sit for subsequent exams, but their answer scripts must be submitted separately with attached reports. Education board officials believe this method will help maintain order and curb malpractice in public examinations.

The Saidpur municipal branch of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir organized a prayer event on Wednesday at the Upazila Model Mosque auditorium for students appearing in the 2026 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations. Former central executive council member Abul Kalam Azad attended as the chief guest and emphasized that hard work, discipline, and faith in Allah are key to success. He urged students to build their future with moral and ideological strength.

The event was presided over by Fahim Muntasir, president of the Saidpur municipal branch, with Sirajul Islam Sohag, office secretary of the Nilphamari town branch, as special guest. Around 150 students from various educational institutions participated in the program. After the prayer, educational materials were distributed among the examinees.

According to the organizers, such events play an important role in motivating students mentally and praying for their success in upcoming examinations.

The Bangladesh Madrasa Education Directorate has issued instructions to all madrasa principals to implement a 180-day action plan aligned with the government’s election manifesto. The directive, announced in a letter sent on Wednesday, requires each institution to execute the plan and submit an implementation report via email to the Directorate’s Director General at planning.madrasah@gmail.com.

According to the letter, the action plan includes four key programs: Learning with Happiness (joyful education), prioritizing health and nutrition, launching free Wi-Fi, and implementing the One Child, One Tree initiative. These programs are part of the Technical and Madrasa Education Division’s broader effort to fulfill commitments made in the government’s manifesto.

The Directorate emphasized that all madrasa heads must strictly follow the instructions and ensure timely submission of progress reports to support the national education reform agenda.

Professor Dr. Abdus Salam of the Department of Chemistry has been appointed as the new Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) of the University of Dhaka. The appointment was made on April 13, 2026, with the approval of the President and Chancellor under Article 13(1) of the Dhaka University Order, 1973. He formally assumed office on April 15, 2026, during a virtual ceremony attended by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A. B. M. Obaidul Islam, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Saima Haque Bidisha, deans, provosts, directors, and faculty members.

Vice-Chancellor Obaidul Islam welcomed the new Pro-Vice Chancellor and emphasized the importance of academic excellence, transparency, and accountability. He praised Professor Salam’s academic experience and expressed confidence that the university’s education system would advance under his leadership. Professor Bidisha described the appointment as timely and said it would bring new momentum to education and research.

In his remarks, Professor Abdus Salam expressed gratitude and pledged to uphold the university’s reputation through dedication and integrity. He requested colleagues to refrain from offering flowers or gifts and sought everyone’s cooperation in fulfilling his responsibilities.