DHAKA, April 23, 2026 (BSS) – A total of 26,865 candidates remained absent on the second day of the ongoing Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations under 11 education boards across the country, while 19 candidates were expelled for resorting to unfair means.

The information was revealed in a report on the second day’s examinations sent by the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee this afternoon.

According to the report, under the nine general education boards, 11, 06,448 candidates appeared in the Bangla (compulsory) second paper examination out of 11, 18,764 registered candidates, leaving 12,316 absent. 

The average absentee rate in these boards stood at 1.10 percent. A total of six candidates were expelled in nine boards.

Board-wise data showed that 2,936 candidates were absent in Dhaka Board, 1,736 in Rajshahi, 1,365 in Cumilla, 1,482 in Jashore, 1,022 in Chattogram, 706 in Sylhet, 980 in Barishal, 1,301 in Dinajpur and 788 in Mymensingh.
Among the general boards, Barishal recorded the highest absentee rate at 1.50 percent, while Dinajpur had the lowest at 0.92 percent.

Under the Madrasah Education Board, 2, 41,732 candidates appeared in the Arabic first paper examination out of 2, 53,882, with 12,150 absent. 

The absentee rate stood at 4.79 percent. Three candidates were expelled from this board.

Meanwhile, under the Technical Education Board, a total of 2,399 candidates were absent in English-2 examination and 10 candidates were expelled.

President of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee and Chairman of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka, Professor Dr Khondokar Ehsanul Kabir, said the examinations were held at 3,875 centres across the country under 11 education boards, excluding nine overseas centres.

He added that the overall situation on the second day remained satisfactory, with strict monitoring in place to ensure a fair and malpractice-free examination environment.