BANGLADESH

Wrong questions papers were distributed among the examinees in three districts on Wednesday, the first day of Secondary School Certificate examinations.

Though the test-takers were supplied with the correct ones in Habiganj one hour into the exams, more than 150 students at two centres in Rangpur and Barguna had to take the tests on the faulty question papers.

SSC and equivalent exams began across the country with 1,420,057 students sitting the school-leaving tests at 2,464 centres.

Rangpur correspondent said students taking Bangla first paper exams at Rangpur Zilla School centre under Dinajpur education board found that they were given question papers for last year's exams.

Some students said when they brought the matter to the duty teachers' notice and asked for correct question papers, the request went heeded.

Around 50 students from Police Lines School and College sat the tests at the Zilla School centre. There was a chaos after the exams were over when guardians came to know of the matter. Some students broke into tears before journalists.

Police Lines School and College principal Jalaluddin Akbar termed the incident a plot to damage the life of the students. He demanded immediate remedy of the mistake.

Salam Miah, a guardian, asked: "What will happen to my son, what is his future?"

"I heard they will give everyone the pass marks. But how can he get admitted to higher classes with so poor marks?"

Rangpur Zilla School headmaster Md Mizanur Rahman said the mistake happened in only two rooms. "It happened due to negligence of the people responsible."

He said the board's controller of examinations has been informed of the incident. "But he could not tell us what needs be done."

The students and guardians demanded that the Zilla School headmaster be punished and the Bangla test retaken.

According to Habiganj correspondent , last year's question papers were distributed among the examinees at Bamoi High School centre at Lakhai Upazila under Sylhet education board.

Correct questions papers were given after 45 minutes when the students brought the matter to the invigilator's attention. The students were given 45 minutes extra time to make up for the lost time.

Lakhai Upazila executive officer Mahbubur Rahman told journalists that he informed Sylhet board chairman and deputy commissioner of the district of the matter.

's Barguna correspondent said 86 casual students (of 2009-10) session were given question papers of the year 2002 at K M Secondary School in Patharghata Upazila though they were supposed to take the test on question papers for 2011.

Centre secretary and K M Secondary School headmaster Mustafizur Rahman admitted the mistake in question paper distribution. He said the Barisal board authorities were informed of the mistake.