Dinajpur brings back spectre of question paper leaks

We are shocked to learn about question paper leaks during the ongoing SSC examinations in Kurigram's Bhurungamari upazila under the Dinajpur Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board. Reportedly, question papers of six subjects – General Mathematics, Higher Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Agricultural Education – have been leaked. And the mastermind behind this is the headmaster of Nehal Uddin Pilot Girls' High School, Lutfar Rahman, who also serves as secretary of the local exam centre. Police investigations have found that he, along with two other teachers of the school, were involved with the leak.

We shudder to think how teachers, who are supposed to be role models for their students, could be involved in such criminal activities. What kind of an example have they set for the young minds through these despicable acts?

We shudder to think how teachers, who are supposed to be role models for their students, could be involved in such criminal activities. What kind of an example have they set for the young minds through these despicable acts? Details that have emerged of the activities of this group, led by Lutfar Rahman who has served as a headmaster for a decade now, are disturbing. All of them should be brought to justice immediately.

We also wonder what has happened to the measures taken by the authorities concerned after SSC question papers were leaked in 2018. During that time, it was decided that the "set" of question papers for any specific exam will be announced only before the commencement of the examination; use of mobile phone by exam officials would be banned during the exams; internet speed would be slowed down, etc. Are these measures still being implemented? These steps are needed to stop question paper leaks or any other exam-related irregularities. Moreover, according to the parents and guardians of local students, there is a gang active in Kurigram and Rangpur who sell question papers at a high price prior to such exams. The police should investigate the allegation and arrest the gang members.

Interestingly, while the Dinajpur Education Board has acknowledged the incident of the question paper leakage and later rescheduled four of the postponed exams, the students, guardians and teachers of the Bhurungamari upazila have alleged that apart from the abovementioned six subjects, question papers of two other subjects also had been leaked. According to them, handwritten copies of question papers of English first paper, held on September 19, and English second paper, held on September 20, were sent to examinees and their guardians the nights before the exams through various messaging apps, including WhatsApp. These allegations should also be investigated by appropriate authorities, and if found to be true, those exams should also be retaken.

We hope the SSC examinees of Dinajpur will be able to recover from the leakage trauma and sit for their next exams without having to worry about the recurrence of any such nuisance. The responsibility to ensure this lies with the education board, the local administration and the police.