The government on Friday postponed this year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations due to the worsening flood situation in several districts, including Sylhet and Sunamganj, of the country.
The SSC general and vocational and Dakhil examinations under 11 education boards across the country were scheduled to begin on Sunday, after a four-month delay caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
This year, the number of total candidates in SSC and equivalent examinations is 2,021,868. Last year, 2,243,254 students sat for the tests.
Education Ministry spokesman MA Khair said the decision was taken after the flooding situation worsened in multiple districts. The revised exam schedule will be announced later.
Sylhet and Sunamganj have been inundated for several days, leaving hundreds of thousands of people marooned. Roads, houses, educational institutions and government and private offices in most areas under these districts have been flooded.
On Friday, as the flood situation worsened, Sylhet Osmani International Airport was declared temporarily closed. Shahjalal University of Science and Technology has also been closed till June 25.
Officials concerned in both Sylhet and Sunamganj are worried that the deluge may also shut down the national power grid. Army has been deployed in different areas to tackle the situation and help the people.
There are 92 examination centres in the two districts. Some 43,844 students from Sylhet and 23,752 from Sunamganj were expected to sit in the exams this year.
Earlier, the authorities had decided to bring the June 25 test forward by one day as it coincided with the inauguration of the Padma Bridge.
