SANGSAD BHABAN, July 14, (v7n)– Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon today said the government is prepared to arrange re-examinations for Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) candidates who were unable to sit for their exams due to flooding caused by the ongoing monsoon.
Replying to a supplementary question from Jamaat-e-Islami MP Md Shafiqul Islam (Patuakhali-2) in Parliament, the minister said the Education Ministry has been maintaining continuous monitoring of examination centres across the country throughout the monsoon season. He said whenever floodwater entered a centre, local administrations were instructed to shift the venue immediately to ensure candidates could take their exams without disruption.
"Only one college, Cumilla Government College, has presented a significant challenge after its grounds were inundated," the minister said, adding that in a handful of other cases, authorities promptly relocated venues and ensured students received necessary facilities.
Milon said the government remains deeply concerned about the examinations and is determined to ensure no student is deprived due to natural disaster. He noted that if any student was unable to sit an exam due to administrative shortcomings, the government would review the matter and could arrange re-examination if necessary. "We have already adopted such a measure under the Chattogram Education Board, and that option remains available," he told Parliament.
The minister urged students to return to their studies, assuring them that the government was even more concerned than they were about conducting examinations properly despite the disaster. "These students are our future. Under no circumstances can we deprive them of their rights, and we will not do so," he said.
Earlier, responding to a supplementary question from Independent lawmaker Rumeen Farhana (Brahmanbaria-2), the minister said the HSC and equivalent examinations were held as scheduled based on weather forecasts and assessments from district and field administrations. He said only one centre—Cumilla Government Women’s College—faced temporary disruption due to waterlogging among nearly 2,700 centres nationwide, but prompt measures ensured the examination was completed successfully.
Dr Milon noted that examinations under Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachhari districts, and later under Chattogram Education Board, had already been postponed in phases due to heavy rainfall and floods. He said the ministry maintained contact with SPs of all 64 districts, divisional commissioners, education board chairmen, local administrations, and the Met Department until 5:00 pm on the day before exams. "All relevant authorities informed us that weather conditions were expected to improve and that there would be no obstacles. Based on that assessment, the decision was taken to proceed," he said.
Regarding the Cumilla centre, the minister said examinees were transported by boat to the fifth floor of the college building, where the exam was conducted one hour later and extended by an hour. One candidate whose clothes had become wet was allowed time to change.
On errors in the Physics paper, Dr Milon said questions 6 and 7 contained mistakes, and authorities decided to award full marks for both to all candidates. He noted that the present government assumed office only four months ago, while question papers were prepared nearly two years earlier by committees appointed during the previous government's tenure, but corrective measures were taken immediately.
The minister said the ministry is maintaining round-the-clock monitoring, and local administrations have been empowered to take necessary decisions if exams cannot be held due to natural disasters. "The government remains highly sensitive to the difficulties faced by students and is continuously monitoring the situation to protect their interests," he added.
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