The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations have begun in Cox’s Bazar under strict security and surveillance, with 344 candidates absent on the first day.
Examinees were subjected to thorough checks at entry points to ensure that no unfair materials or digital devices were brought into the centers. According to the rules, candidates had to enter the centers by 9:30 a.m., while the exams began at 10:00 a.m.
All examination rooms have been equipped with CCTV cameras to enable round-the-clock monitoring of the exam environment.
Lutfannesa, central secretary of Cox’s Bazar Government Girls’ High School, said all preparations had been completed in line with directives from the Ministry of Education. The school ensured the necessary facilities, such as fans, lighting, and CCTV, for the students.
Outside the centers, guardians waited for their children, despite the intense heat. Many expressed concern over load shedding, saying power outages had disrupted students’ preparation.
Afreen Sumi, a guardian, said sudden electricity cuts were affecting studies and urged authorities to minimise load shedding during the exam period.
Former footballer Masud Alam said the experience of accompanying his daughter to the exam center felt very different from his own exams.
After the exam ended at 1:00pm, students said both multiple-choice and written sections of the Bangla first paper were manageable overall, although some found the written part slightly difficult.
According to the district administration’s education wing, 18,198 SSC candidates are sitting at 32 centres, 7,118 Dakhil candidates at 14 centres, and 1,431 vocational candidates at eight centres—making a total of 26,747 candidates at 54 centres across the district.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdu Rashid Manik
