Dhaka: A total of 19,759 candidates were absent on the first day of the HSC and equivalent examinations across the country. Meanwhile, 43 candidates were expelled for engaging in cheating. Of these, six were in HSC, 24 in Alim, and 13 in the Technical Education Board exams. This information was revealed in a press release issued by the President of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee and Chairman of the Dhaka Education Board, Professor Dr. Khandokar Ehsanul Kabir.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a total of 932,790 candidates appeared in the Bangla (compulsory) 1st paper examination under the nine general education boards of HSC. Information available from 1,599 centers out of 1,600 centers shows that 918,277 candidates participated in the examination, with 14,513 absent. The rate of absence in the examination stood at 1.56 percent. Of the six expelled candidates, one is under the Rajshahi Education Board, one under Barisal, three under Cumilla, and one under Mymensingh Education Board.
On the first day of the HSC examination, the Dhaka Board saw 3,326 candidates absent, the Rajshahi Board had 1,867, the Cumilla Board witnessed 2,428, the Chattogram Board experienced 1,230, the Barisal Board had 1,029, the Sylhet Board recorded 824, the Dinajpur Board noted 1,291, the Mymensingh Board had 880, and the Jashore Board had 1,638 absentees.
The Quran Majeed exam was held on the first day of Alim under the Madrasa Board, where a total of 84,317 candidates were supposed to take part in the exam at 459 centers. However, 80,121 candidates took part in the exam, marking an absence of 4,196 candidates, which translates to an absence rate of 4.98 percent. Additionally, 24 candidates were expelled for engaging in unfair means.
Meanwhile, under the Technical Education Board, 98,924 candidates were supposed to take part in the examination at 733 centers. However, 97,874 candidates participated, with 1,050 absent, resulting in an absence rate of 1.06 percent.