The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Cumilla on Tuesday shifted an HSC examination centre following widespread criticism after severe waterlogging forced examinees to wade through waist-deep water to sit Monday's examination.
At an emergency press conference held at the board office, Chairman Prof Md Ahsan Parvez said the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination scheduled for Wednesday will no longer be held at Cumilla Government Women's College.
Instead, the centre has been shifted to Bhasha Soinik Ajit Guha College to ease the suffering of examinees, he said.
Ahsan Parvez said the education board made every effort to conduct Monday's examination smoothly and sudden heavy rainfall in the early hours left no opportunity to suspend the examination immediately.
"Our priority was to ensure that students could complete their examinations and return home safely," he said.
The chairman said the Cumilla City Corporation, district administration, the education board and other stakeholders worked in coordination to facilitate the examination despite the adverse conditions.
Responding to a question, he said no other examination centre under the board experienced a similar situation apart from Cumilla Government Women's College.
Ahsan Parvez said the board will remain more vigilant in future and take all necessary measures to protect the interests of students should such unforeseen situations arise again.
On Monday, continuous heavy rainfall caused severe waterlogging in different parts of Cumilla city. At the Cumilla Government Women's College examination centre, many HSC candidates had to wade through waist-deep water to reach the venue.
The incident triggered widespread criticism from students and guardians, who blamed the authorities for poor planning and demanded the postponement of subsequent examinations.
Board Secretary Prof Jahangir Alam, Controller of Examinations Prof Dr Md Shafiqul Islam, College Inspector Prof Md Shipon Mia and other senior officials were present at the press conference.