United News of Bangladesh

Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Sunday placed the The Public Examinations (Offences) (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in Parliament, aiming to strengthen legal measures against question paper leaks, cheating, fake certificates and technology-driven examination offences. The bill was subsequently sent to the relevant parliamentary scrutiny committee for detailed examination, with the committee asked to submit its report within the next three working days. According to the objective of the Bill placed before the House, the existing The Public Examinations (Offences) Act, 1980 was enacted about 45 years ago to prevent malpractice in public examinations, including cheating, question leaks, fabrication of certificates and other irregularities. However, the Bill observed that the widespread use of technology and the growing trend of committing examination-related crimes through digital means have rendered several provisions of the existing law outdated. The proposed amendment seeks to ensure a fair and malpractice-free examination environment by bringing offences committed through digital systems and online platforms within the legal framework. The draft law received policy approval from the Cabinet on April 2, 2026. Following Cabinet directives, the draft underwent several rounds of revision, vetting and further amendments by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division and the Cabinet Division before receiving final Cabinet approval on June 18. One of the key features of the proposed legislation is the inclusion and definition of the term “Digital Manipulation” to cover unauthorised access to examination databases through cybercrime, as well as any form of digital tampering. The bill proposes a maximum punishment of five years’ imprisonment and fines for those found guilty of digital manipulation. It also provides for stricter penalties and financial sanctions against individuals or groups involved in organised examination fraud or the formation of criminal networks to facilitate such offences. The government said the amendment has become urgently necessary to address emerging challenges in safeguarding the integrity of public examinations in the digital age.

Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Sunday said the government is committed to ensuring the prompt payment of retirement and welfare benefits to retired teachers and employees of private educational institutions, aiming to clear the existing backlog within six months once the required funds are allocated. Responding to a question from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami MP Md Abdul Wares (Gaibandha-5) in Parliament, the minister said around 67,000 applications for retirement benefits are currently pending with the Non-Government Teacher Employee Retirement Benefits Board. He said each retired teacher or employee receives an average retirement benefit of about Tk 13 lakh. According to Milon, settling all pending applications requires approximately Tk 8,710 crore, while the retirement fund currently holds only around Tk 1,300 crore, leaving a shortfall of nearly Tk 7,410 crore. He also informed the House that about 45,000 applications have remained pending with the Non-Government Teachers and Employee Welfare Trust since August 2023 to June 21, 2026. The minister said clearing those applications will require a one-off allocation of around Tk 3,150 crore. He said the government has already initiated measures to address the financial crisis facing both the retirement benefits board and the welfare trust by arranging the necessary budgetary allocation. Milon said several administrative reforms have also been undertaken to speed up the settlement process, including reactivating the software system, increasing manpower, expanding online services and introducing direct payments to teachers' and employees' bank accounts through the iBAS++ financial management system. "If the necessary funds are allocated, it will be possible to dispose of all currently pending retirement benefit applications within six months," he told Parliament. The minister added that the government's long-term objective is to ensure that retired teachers and employees of private schools, colleges and madrasahs receive their retirement and welfare benefits within three to six months after retirement. In his question, Abdul Wares highlighted the prolonged suffering of retired teachers of private schools, colleges and madrasahs who have been waiting for years to receive their retirement benefits, and asked whether the government will ensure payments within three to six months of retirement.

Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations will begin on January 7 while Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations will start on June 6 from next year. Education  Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon disclosed the schedule of the public examinations at a press conference on Thursday. SSC and its equivalent examinations will be concluded on February 6 while HSC and its equivalent examinations will end on July 13, next year, he said. “The SSC and HSC examinations are extremely important. Approximately 20 lakh students appear in SSC and equivalent examinations and 20 lakh in HSC and equivalent examinations. The education and future of these 40 lakh students are extremely important,” he said. “We are trying to synchronise the system in a way that gradually closes the gap where students lose nearly a year waiting for the SSC examinations and another year waiting for the HSC examinations. We are considering December as the end of the academic year and the examination month and we have been moving forward accordingly,” said the minister. This year, the HSC examinations will begin from July 2, he said. Asked when the results would be published, the minister said, “In 2001, I fixed the timeframe at two months. No one would be allowed to delay the results by even a single day beyond that. That practice is still being followed.” However, as the system has now become more advanced, the timeframe will be shortened further, not extended, he said. “I have made it clear in my remarks that we do not want to keep any gap between the publication of results and the admission process. We want students to get admitted immediately after the results are published,” he said.  

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Sunday warned of action against those spreading rumours over question paper leaks during the ongoing Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations, urging students and guardians not to pay heed to misinformation. The government is being embarrassed by such rumours but remains vigilant to ensure that students do not suffer because of misinformation, he told reporters attending a programme organised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in the capital. “We request students and guardians not to pay attention to rumours. We are alert. Even after official statements from the authorities, some people are still spreading rumours. Action will be taken against them,” he said. Referring to reports based on Telegram groups and social media posts, Milon criticised sections of the media for publishing unverified reports. “Before publishing reports based on Telegram groups, there should have been proper verification. One cannot rely on Facebook posts alone. Instant comments spread on Facebook like instant coffee. The media also has a responsibility,” he said. The minister said the government is satisfied with the overall environment of the ongoing SSC examinations. “So far, we are receiving positive feedback. We are satisfied, teachers are satisfied, students and examinees are also satisfied. We hope the remaining exams will also be completed smoothly with everyone’s cooperation,” he said. Highlighting the government’s education planning, he said the government is planning  ti designate December as the month for examinations and begin new academic sessions from January in order to minimise academic delays and session backlogs. “We believe December should be the examination month and new classes should begin from January so that there is no waiting time,” he said. Milon said coordination among education boards, universities and curriculum authorities would be strengthened to address the academic gap faced by higher secondary students and reduce session jams in university admissions. He said the authorities are working on aligning curricula, syllabuses and academic schedules to ensure timely completion of courses and smoother admission processes for students transitioning to higher education.

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Thursday told Parliament that the government has started the recruitment process to fill the vacant posts of assistant teachers in government secondary schools. “Currently, there are a total of 2,842 vacant posts of assistant teacher in government secondary schools across the country,” he said replying to a tabled question from Khelafat Majlis lawmaker Mohammed Abul Hasan (Sylhet-5) in the House. Earlier, the question-and-answer session was tabled by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, immediately after the Thursday’s parliament session started at 3:00 pm. The education minister said a list of vacant posts has already been prepared in order to address the shortage of teachers in government secondary schools. The necessary information has been sent to the Ministry of Education for sending a proposal to the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) for recruitment, he said. “Through this an initiative has been taken to complete the recruitment process soon,” he added. On the other hand, to address the teacher shortage in non-government secondary schools and Alia Madradhsd, teacher recruitment process is ongoing by the Non-government Teacher Registration and Certification Authority. Through this, vacancies are being filled in phases, said Ehsanul Hoque. “So, by implementing the steps taken by the government, it will be possible to fill the vacancies in phases. Once the recruitment process is completed, the teacher shortage will be significantly reduced within a short period of time and the quality of education will improve,” he said. About the Madrashas, he said there are three government Alia Madrashas and 8,229 MPO-affiliated non-government Madrashas in the country. The number of vacant posts in government Alia Madrashas is 114, he said. In MPO-affiliated non-government Madrashas, there are 1,354 vacant posts of superintendent and 1,777 vacant posts of assistant superintendent. The process of filling these posts through NTRCA is ongoing, said the minister.

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Wednesday told Parliament that 2,839 villages across the country still do not have any primary school. “No, not every village in the country has a primary school. The number of villages without primary school is 2,839 throughout the country,” he said while replying to a tabled question from treasury bench lawmaker Joynal Abdin (Feni-2). The Minister said the number of villages without primary school is 717 in Dhaka Division, 818 in Chattogram Division, 355 in Rajshahi Division, 37 in Rangpur Division, 341 in Khulna Division, 45 in Barishal Division, 260 in Sylhet Division and 266 in Mymensingh Division. He said the government would take steps to establish schools in these villages if proposals are received, considering all necessary conditions. In reply to another tabled question from opposition (Jamaat) lawmaker Gazi Enamul Haque (Jashore-5), the education minister said there are 24,320 educational institutions under the Secondary and Higher Education Division throughout the country. Of these, the number of institutions without  building (structures) constructed with government finance is 4,059. But the government has been implementing the infrastructural development in the unprivileged educational institutions gradually, he said. Ehsanul Hoque said a decision was taken to construct Bhaban (structure) in one school, one collage and one non-government Madrasha or non-government technical educational institution in every constituency in the current fiscal year. Responding to a scripted question from ruling party lawmaker Md Salim Bhuiyan (Cumilla-2), the education minister said the total number of educational institutes that are not listed under the Monthly Pay Order (Non-MPO schools) is 6,179 in the country. Of these, 3,798 non-MPO institutions –2,712 schools, 223 schools and colleges and 863 colleges—are under the Secondary and Higher Education Division. The remaining 2,381 ones – 1,092 Madrasas and 1,289 technical institutions—are under the Technical and Madrasa Division, he said. Ehsanul Hoque said the government has been taking steps to gradually include non-MPO educational institutions in the education sector in order to spread quality education and ensure financial security for teachers and employees. In this regard, the decision to include institutions in the list of MPO is taken in the context of receiving applications, verification and selection as per the policies, and the necessary financial resources, he said. Govt is positive about non-MPO institutions: Ehsanul Hoque In reply to another scripted question from opposition (Jamaat) lawmaker Md Amir Hamza (Khustia-3), the Education Minister said the government is positive to include the non-MPO educational institutions in the list of MPO. He said the process to bring non-MPO educational institutions under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) system in phases to expand education and improve quality at the secondary and higher secondary levels across the country. Through this process, eligible and necessary institutions are being brought under the purview of government financial assistance, so that the stability in the education system, including the payment of teachers' salaries and allowances, can be ensured, he added. "The government is positive about the fresh inclusion of non-MPO schools and colleges in the MPO. However, the institutions are selected subject to proper compliance with the specific policies and conditions for MPO inclusion - such as number of students, results, infrastructure, number of teachers, geographical requirements," he said. Ehsanul Hoque said that necessary measures will be taken to gradually include non-MPO educational institutions that meet all the conditions, subject to the government's policy decision.

Since 2009, every Education Minister in Bangladesh has issued orders to shut down coaching centres. The count of those orders exceeds ten. The count of coaching centres permanently closed as a result is zero. The Education Act that could provide a legal basis for enforcement has been in draft for fifteen years. This article traces that record, corrects a widely circulated factual error, and identifies the structural reasons the policy has never worked. The Chronology

The government will finalise a plan on how educational institutions will operate with reduced electricity consumption amid the ongoing global energy crisis at the next cabinet meeting, said Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Sunday. “A decision on whether to introduce online classes will be taken at the highest policy-making level and the proposal would likely be placed before the cabinet after consultations with stakeholders.The Cabinet Division will brief the media,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat. The next cabinet meeting is scheduled for April 9 as meetings are usually held on Thursdays. Earlier, at a cabinet meeting on March 2, the government decided to reduce office hours by one hour to save energy, a measure that came into effect on Sunday. It also ordered shops and shopping malls to close by 6pm, along with suspending loans for government officials to purchase vehicles and cutting fuel allocations by 30 percent. Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani said the Education Ministry would issue separate guidelines for educational institutions taking into account the need for further discussions. The government is considering a blended system combining online and in-person classes to ensure learning continues without disruption, said the minister. “We are encouraging online education alongside physical classes, as the duration of the global energy crisis remains uncertain,” he said.  

The Ministry of Education is considering introducing both online and offline classes at the school level amid the global energy crisis. “A proposal in this regard will be placed before the Cabinet and a decision will be taken following discussions,” Education minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon told reporters in the morning after a meeting with Prime Minister Tareque Rahman at the Secretariat.  “The global crisis is not only affecting Bangladesh and we don’t know how long it will continue. That is why we are thinking of bringing our school system online and adapting a blended system,” he added. He said school hours have already been disrupted due to holidays during Ramadan and various other disturbances. “Previously, classes were held five days a week. Now, we have lost many sessions, so we are considering extending school hours to a six-day week. Meanwhile, due to the international fuel crisis we are also exploring the possibility of online classes at certain times,” he said. The minister added that a recent survey showed around 85% of respondents want online learning options but cautioned that fully shifting to online education could lead to social isolation among students. “We are thinking about a balanced approach,” he said. Earlier in the morning, Minister Milon and State Minister for Mass Education Bobby Hajja met with the Prime Minister at the secretariat.

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Sunday said the government is reviewing the current primary school admission process and will decide on the system for 2027 after consulting stakeholders. The admission pressure is mainly seen in urban areas particularly in Dhaka while rural schools usually do not face such competition due to relatively lower student numbers, he said responding to a supplementary question in Parliament from MP Abul Hasnat Abdullah from Cumilla. “The lottery system was introduced earlier to address the admission pressure in city schools but I personally do not think it is a very logical system,” Milon told the House. He said the government will hold seminars and discussions with stakeholders including parents to build public opinion before finalising the admission system for January 2027. Hasnat Abdullah expressed concerns about the shift from merit-based admission to a lottery system at the primary level. He argued that the change has weakened the quality of feeder institution which ultimately affects the quality of students entering universities. The lawmaker also questioned whether an inclusive education system could be achieved while maintaining three parallel streams in the country—Bangla medium, English medium and madrasa education—which he said largely reflect economic disparities among families. In response, the Education Minister acknowledged that Bangladesh currently has multiple streams of education and integrating them is a complex process. He said the government has already formed a committee to bring English-medium schools under a regulatory framework aligned with national policies. The minister added that work has also begun to reform the Ebtedayee (primary madrasha) system and explore ways to incorporate the Qawmi education stream within a broader national education framework. “We are taking initiatives to gradually coordinate these different streams so that the education system becomes more unified in future,” he said.