In Noakhali’s Hatiya upazila, the annual exams of more than four hundred students at Charkailash Government Primary School are being conducted by the headteacher alone, due to an ongoing work stoppage by assistant teachers. On 2 December, the assistant teachers were seen staying inside the office room while headteacher Monowara Hoque managed the examinations single-handedly.

Handling five classes at once has resulted in significant disorder during the exams. With no monitoring in several rooms, students were observed talking openly, copying from notebooks, and moving about freely. Concerned parents expressed frustration, saying that exam standards are being severely compromised and students’ academic futures are at risk.

Assistant teachers said they are observing the nationwide work stoppage to press for three demands, including 11th grade status and promotion. They warned of tougher programmes if their demands remain unmet.

Headteacher Monowara Hoque stated that while she respects the teachers’ movement, she is conducting the exams based on instructions from the DPEO, ADPEO and ATEO. She added that she is receiving support from former students to continue the examinations so that children do not fall behind.

Upazila Primary Education Officer Abdul Jabbar said that exams are being conducted in 79 out of Hatiya’s 227 schools. He added that further decisions regarding the remaining schools will be taken by the authorities.

The government has warned that secondary school teachers who suspended students’ examinations are in violation of civil service rules and will face disciplinary action. The caution came from Education Adviser Professor Dr C R Abrar during an exclusive interview with Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) on Monday.

Dr Abrar said the teachers’ decision to halt examinations amounts to a breach of the government’s code of conduct, adding that the authorities have taken a firm stance on the matter. He urged teachers to resume examinations immediately to ease pressure on students and their parents.

The adviser described the demand for upgrading teachers to the ninth grade as unjustified, saying they had joined service knowing they would remain in the tenth grade. He noted that the ninth grade is typically reserved for BCS administration cadre officers and involves inter-ministerial coordination, meaning teachers cannot be placed there unilaterally.

Dr Abrar further alleged that the teachers were “using students as instruments” by suspending examinations during their movement, which he termed unethical. He warned that failure to conduct exams from the next day would result in disciplinary action under civil service regulations.

After spending years with his studentship revoked on allegations of thesis fraud, Rajshahi University student Rafiqul Islam has finally had his academic standing restored. The university on Wednesday evening released his long-pending master’s results, showing that he secured a perfect CGPA of 4.00 and ranked first in his department.

The result was published temporarily by the Office of the Controller of Examinations, with authorities noting that they reserve the right to amend or cancel the results if any inconsistency is found.

University sources said that following recent political changes, a three-member inquiry committee was formed to review the decision that had led to Rafiqul’s expulsion. Based on the review committee’s findings, the university syndicate, in its 536th meeting, decided to reinstate his studentship and publish his withheld results.

Rafiqul, who completed his undergraduate degree while in jail, had been barred from enrolling in any public university for a master’s programme in Bangladesh. He later completed his master’s in China and is currently pursuing a PhD at King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia.

Reacting to the publication of his results, Rafiqul said the moment was one of the happiest in his life, describing the years following his expulsion as deeply traumatic for him and his family.

Meanwhile, Mostakur Rahman Jahid, Vice President of the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union and a leader of Islami Chhatra Shibir, expressed joy on social media, describing the development as the end of “years of oppression.”