The error has left many students rushing to their colleges and the board office to have the mistake corrected instead of focusing on final exam preparations.

Controller of Examinations Professor G.M. Shahidul Islam said the issue occurred due to incorrect computer program settings and negligence by an operator. The concerned operator has been served a show-cause notice.

He added that since the error was detected before the start of the examinations, it can now be resolved without major complications. Students are being allowed to correct their registration details free of charge, and authorities have assured that there will be no harassment in the process. Colleges are coordinating with the board to ensure swift corrections.

Under the Barishal Board, a total of 81,831 students have registered for this year’s HSC examinations. Typically, student registration is completed six months after first-year college admission, and printed registration cards are distributed at least one month before the exams begin.

The mistake was first identified when faulty registration cards were distributed in two districts, including Jhalakathi. It was then discovered that 38,000 male candidates had been incorrectly marked as female.