Special HSC exam rules announced for 7th-day adventist students

The Dhaka Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education has announced special arrangements for Seventh-day Adventist students sitting the 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations, allowing Saturday examinations to be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in consideration of their religious observance.

The directive, signed by Controller of Examinations Professor Jesmin Taslima Banu and issued on Monday, instructs district administrations nationwide to implement the revised schedule. The measure has been adopted to accommodate the religious beliefs of Seventh-day Adventist candidates while safeguarding the integrity, confidentiality, and fairness of the public examinations.

Under the board's guidelines, eligible candidates must report to their respective examination centres before 10:00 a.m. on Saturdays. After entering the venue, they will be required to remain in a designated room until the examination begins at 6:00 p.m. During this period, they will not be permitted to leave the room or establish any form of communication with individuals outside the examination centre, thereby ensuring the confidentiality of the question papers.

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The board has further stipulated that candidates may carry only the authorised materials specified on their admit cards, while all unauthorised electronic devices and prohibited items remain strictly forbidden. The education authorities noted that similar accommodations are made annually for students from religious minority communities to ensure that their academic pursuits are not impeded by faith-based observances, reaffirming the authorities' commitment to both inclusivity and the integrity of the examination process.