2 Alim tests deferred

The government yesterday postponed two Alim examinations of the madrasa board after an official allegedly opened a package containing the question papers in Rupganj of Narayanganj.

The postponed exams slated for today and Thursday will now be held on December 21 and December 23 respectively, Madrasa Education Board Chairman Prof Kaiser Ahmed told The Daily Star yesterday.

New questions will be prepared and printed in the meantime.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shah Nusrat Jahan and board officials said the secretary of the exam centre at Kaladi Shahbajuddin Jamia Islamia Fazil Madrasa on Thursday opened the package containing the question paper of Hadith and Usool Hadith. But the exam for that day was on Quran Majid.

High officials and the madrasa board were informed immediately, the UNO added.

Prof Kaiser said the madrasa board is investigating the matter.

Board officials said physics 2nd paper and Al Fiqah exams scheduled for next Thursday were postponed as a precautionary move.

Bashir Ahmed, secretary of the exam centre in question, told The Daily Star that he had not opened any package.

A total of 1,13,144 students from 2,692 madrasas are taking part in the exams at 447 centres. All the students get the same set of questions.

The Alim exams did not take place last year due to closure amid the pandemic. The students were evaluated based on their performance in previous public exams.

This year's exams are being held only on three subjects and a shortened syllabus after a delay of nearly eight months.