More than 34,000 candidates were absent on the third day of the SSC and equivalent examinations in Bangladesh, while 40 people were expelled for using unfair means, according to the Bangladesh Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee.
The exams were held on Sunday, 26 April, under 11 education boards. English First Paper tests took place under the nine general education boards. Mathematics exams were held under the Madrasa and Technical Education boards.
Officials said 15,599 candidates were absent from the English First Paper exam across the country. A total of 21 people were expelled during that exam.
The highest number of expulsions in the English test was reported in the Barishal Education Board, where eight candidates were removed. Chattogram had five expulsions, Rajshahi had three, and Mymensingh had two. Dhaka, Cumilla, and Sylhet reported one each. No expulsions were reported in Jashore and Dinajpur.
Dhaka Board recorded the highest absenteeism in the English exam, with 3,599 candidates absent. Rajshahi had 2,059 absentees, Jashore had 1,977, Chattogram had 1,566, Dinajpur had 1,587, Barishal had 1,473, Cumilla had 1,419, Mymensingh had 1,088, and Sylhet had 831.
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Under the Madrasa Board, the Dakhil Mathematics exam was held at 741 centres. Officials said 14,963 candidates were absent, with an absentee rate of 5.29 percent. Another 15 people were expelled during the exam.
Under the Technical Education Board, the Mathematics-2 exam was held at 653 centres. Of 125,581 registered candidates, 122,089 attended. That means 3,492 were absent. Four candidates were expelled for unfair means.
The latest figures show a clear rise in disciplinary cases since the exams began on 21 April. On the first day, six candidates were expelled nationwide. That number rose to 19 on the second day, before reaching 40 on the third day.
Absenteeism also increased sharply. Officials said the number of absentees rose by nearly 9,000 compared with earlier exam days.
The SSC and equivalent examinations are continuing under tight monitoring, with more subject tests scheduled in the coming days.
