38 Students Fail After Sitting ICT Exam With Wrong Question Paper in Jashore; Board Denies Responsibility

Thirty-eight students have reportedly failed after being made to sit an exam with the wrong question paper at a centre in Jashore in this year's HSC examinations. Those concerned said the students of Jashore Upashahar College failed because they were examined with the question paper meant for irregular candidates of 2025.

The board authorities have refused to take responsibility for the incident. The college authorities concerned have advised the students to apply for re-scrutiny of their results. Examinees and guardians are resentful over fears of losing a year of their educational lives, the report said.

Related sources said the HSC examination centre for 279 students of Jashore Upashahar College in 2026 was Upashahar Mohila College. The Information and Communication Technology (subject code 275) exam was held at that centre on 11 July at 10am.

That day, the question papers distributed at the scheduled time at the centre ran short. Teachers later brought question papers and distributed them among 38 examinees in room 303. The time for the objective part was only 25 minutes, and everyone at the centre was a regular candidate.

At the last moment of the exam, the examinees realised they had been given not the 2026 question paper but the paper for irregular students of 2025. They informed Upashahar Degree College and those in charge of the centre. At one stage, as students began making a commotion, Upashahar College and the Mohila College informed the board authorities.

Board exam controller Professor SM Hossain Ali and other officials went to Upashahar Mohila College that afternoon. The centre secretary, Upashahar Mohila College principal Saidur Rahman, and the officer in charge, assistant professor Nazrul Islam, were then relieved of their duties.

When a retake of the ICT exam was demanded at that time, the board authorities assured that they would consider the matter, guardians said. The students then took part in the other examinations.

Upashahar College acting principal Md Mostafizur Rahman applied to the board naming the 38 students who sat the exam with the wrong paper, with their roll and registration numbers. The HSC results were published on 31 October. Of the college's 279 examinees, only 49 passed — a pass rate of 17.56 percent. The 38 who sat the exam with the wrong paper are among the 230 who failed.

A failed student named Orko said the question paper was given about 10 minutes into the objective part's mere 25 minutes. After receiving it he tried to answer quickly and did not notice when the time ended. After the exam, while discussing with friends from other rooms, he realised they had sat the exam with the previous 2025 paper. The centre's teachers were informed at once.

Another student named Ripon said they were examined with the question paper for irregular students of 2025. They protested, but everyone received an F grade in ICT, and he does not know what to do now.

A student named Ruponti said ICT is not an easy subject for everyone. Having studied according to the syllabus, she asked how they could answer questions from another syllabus and how passing was possible. She requested teachers to be more responsible.

Yasin, who failed in ICT, said the delay in giving the question paper caused great tension. Because the paper was supplied seven minutes late, he could not understand that the questions were not within the syllabus. He understood the matter after leaving the room. He now has to sit the exam again and sees no alternative.

A guardian named Asha said this is what happens when irresponsible people are given responsibility, and that a year is being lost from her son's life. Another guardian, Rabiul Islam, said that even though the 38 students failed after the results were announced, Upashahar Degree College took no action.

An official of Upashahar Degree College, unwilling to be named, said there were 38 examinees in room 303 and they were given the 2025 paper; all received an F grade in ICT, meaning all failed. Upashahar College ICT teacher Ismat Ara said she could not say how many students were affected; some students were harmed because of the wrong question paper, and the principal could say more about the matter.

Upashahar Degree College acting principal Mostafizur Rahman said the failed students have been advised to apply for re-scrutiny of their results. They discussed the matter on Thursday 5 November and decided to lodge a complaint with the board.

Upashahar Mohila College principal Saidur Rahman said a few students were mistakenly given the 2025 examination question paper. For this reason the board authorities relieved two people including the principal from examination duties. He was not informed what happened afterwards. On the claim that 38 students would lose a year of their educational lives because of the wrong paper, he said, 'Not 38, but 21. And nobody gives a wrong question paper intentionally.'

Jashore Board exam controller Professor SM Hossain Ali said the board has no responsibility in the incident of an exam being taken with the wrong question paper. Under the board's rules, the secretary and the officer in charge of the Upashahar Mohila College centre had been relieved. On the loss of a year from students' educational lives, he said whatever was possible under the board's rules has been done.