In response to the disruption caused by rain, the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams will be rescheduled to an earlier date from next year, Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury has said. On the first day of this year's HSC and equivalent exams, many candidates faced significant difficulties due to heavy rainfall. Read more: HSC exams in Sylhet’s flood-hit areas to be held later: Education Minister Many students were unable to reach their centers on time. With more rain forecasted in the coming days, the Education Board instructed that extra time be given to students arriving late at exam centers. Addressing a press briefing at the International Mother Language Institute in Segunbagicha on Sunday, the minister said, "Our exam schedule was disrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic. We have mostly recovered from that. Next year, the exams will be scheduled earlier, and the HSC exams will be held during the driest season possible." Read more: HSC, equivalent exams begin

Regarding the Education Ministry's recommendation to raise the age limit for government jobs, Minister of Public Administration Farhad Hossain said it is subject to government policy. "A decision in this regard would be made in consultation with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, adhering to her directives," he said. Talking to UNB, Farhad Hossain said Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury has recommended that the age limit for entry into government jobs should be 35 years in general and 37 years in the case of quota. Recently, he sent a letter to the Minister of Public Administration with this recommendation. "But the age limit for entry into govt jobs is a matter of policy decision of the state. A decision in this regard will be taken after it is presented to the Prime Minister." Dhaka to have 22 cattle markets for Eid-ul-Azha 2024 "Any policy decision follows a process. We will consult with the Prime Minister over the issue and proceed with her suggestions", he added. The minister also said if the age of entry to the job is increased, the recruitment policy should be changed. We have to do special work on it. "Only after discussion with the Prime Minister, we can say whether it will be done or not or when it will be done," the minister said. He said, "These issues have already been placed in front of the Prime Minister.  The Members of Parliament of the 11th Parliament raised questions about this, I myself answered those questions and the Prime Minister also answered some of those questions. There she said, the age limit for entering the job will be 30 years, but in the case of children of freedom fighters, it will be 32 years. 'Smart Bangladesh' by 2041: Government undertakes 8 strategic initiatives The government has increased the retirement age from 57 to 59 years, he said, adding that the entry age has also been increased from 27 years to 30 years. "If the entry age is increased, then we have to think about the age of retirement and it's a matter." The Prime Minister has clarified these issues very nicely, Minister Farhad said.