Bangladesh to Hold Centre Secretaries Accountable for Cheating, Expand CCTV Monitoring

As Bangladesh prepares for the 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations, the government has announced tougher measures to curb cheating, including holding centre secretaries accountable for malpractice while expanding CCTV-based monitoring of classrooms.

Speaking at an exchange meeting with officials in charge of HSC examination centres under the Sylhet Education Board, Madrasa Education Board and Technical Education Board on Sunday, Education Adviser Dr. A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milon said centre secretaries would be held responsible for incidents of cheating, although he acknowledged there are certain operational limitations. He added that the government plans to overcome those challenges by using CCTV systems installed for examination monitoring to also oversee classroom teaching.

The adviser also announced that, following July, the government will begin establishing smart classrooms and provide tablet devices to teachers as part of broader education digitisation efforts.

Ahead of the HSC examinations, Milon warned that anyone spreading misleading or false information online aimed at creating confusion would face immediate legal action. Those unable to substantiate such claims with evidence could be arrested. He said the government would show "zero tolerance" toward any attempt to undermine educational standards.

He also revealed that amendments to the Anti-Cheating Act would be placed before Parliament later in the day to address emerging forms of digitally assisted examination fraud.

"Political differences will not stand in the way of improving education. Everyone wants better education, and we will work together for that goal," Milon said.

To ensure greater consistency across education boards, the government will also review answer script assessment methods to bring greater uniformity in marking.

Highlighting the government's long-term education strategy, the adviser stressed aligning academic programmes with market-driven demand and giving greater priority to technical and vocational education over conventional higher education. He said the government is planning to establish another institution similar to DUET and encouraged every school and madrasa to introduce Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes.

The meeting also discussed teacher shortages, depoliticising teacher transfers, preventing extortion by school authorities, issues surrounding MPO-listed college teachers, and concerns over grade demotion during institutional integration. Responding to participants, Milon said the era of lobbying and influence at the Directorate General offices was over, adding that all administrative processes would be brought under a unified system.

Some participants urged the government to prohibit the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in question paper preparation and answer script evaluation. Others requested government intervention to help restore the academic reputation of MC College.

The meeting was chaired by Sylhet Education Board Chairman Anwar Hossain. Welcome remarks were delivered by Controller of Examinations Professor Bilkis Yasmin. Among those present were Technical Education Board Chairman Engineer Md. Ruhul Amin, Madrasa Education Board Chairman Professor Khondokar Mohammad Sadekur Rahman, Sylhet City Corporation Administrator Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury, Jugantor Editor Abdul Hai Sikder, DBC News Editor Loton Ekram, BNP Central Executive Committee Joint Organising Secretary Miftah Siddiqui, and Sylhet Metropolitan BNP General Secretary Emdad Hossain Chowdhury, among others.

The 2026 HSC and equivalent examinations will begin nationwide on July 2 with a unified question paper. Under the Sylhet Education Board, examinations will be conducted at 96 centres involving students from 336 colleges across the division.

//DBTech/SH/IH//