Education authorities have confirmed that Anisa Ahmed, a Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinee from Laboratory School and College, will not be allowed to retake the Bangla First Paper exam after arriving an hour late on 26 June at the Government Mirpur Bangla College centre, reports bdnews24.

Photos and videos of the student crying outside the centre went viral on social media, accompanied by claims that she had been delayed while taking her mother, who had suffered a stroke, to the hospital. Posts also alleged that her father had passed away and she had no other family members to assist her.

Initially, Education Adviser Professor Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar was quoted as saying that arrangements might be made for her to sit the missed exam. However, the Ministry of Education and the Dhaka Education Board have since confirmed that no such decision was made and that there is no provision for it under existing rules.

Professor Khandoker Ehsanul Kabir, president of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee and chairman of the Dhaka Education Board, told bdnews24: “We have yet to receive any decision on Anisa taking the Bangla First Paper exam again. We have formed several investigation teams, collected information about her, and informed the education ministry. The matter depends on the ministry’s decision.”

He added, “There is no precedent for someone to take the exam under special arrangements if they miss a public exam. We do not have the opportunity to grant them that chance under any law or regulation. However, the board will take action according to the Ministry of Education’s decision by executive order.”

Professor Kabir said that although Anisa could not take the first paper, she had sat for the Bangla Second Paper. If she scores 66 or more in that paper, she will pass both papers. Otherwise, she will be able to retake both papers next year as an irregular examinee.

Two separate investigation teams from the Dhaka Board found inconsistencies in Anisa’s account. A senior board official said the findings indicated her mother had accompanied her to the centre and identified herself as an aunt. The investigation suggested the student had mistaken the exam start time for 2pm instead of 10am.

Laboratory School and College Principal Md Asaduzzaman said the student and her mother had presented a medical certificate claiming hospital admission on the day of the exam, which was forwarded to the board for review.