Junior scholarship exam set for Dec 31 postponed after Khaleda Zia’s death

The exams will now be held on Jan 5 after the nation observes three days of mourning in the wake of former prime minister Khaleda Zia's death

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Education authorities have postponed the junior scholarship exams scheduled for Wednesday following the declaratoin of state mourning for former prime minister and BNP chief Khaleda Zia.

The Science and Bangladesh and Global Studies exams will now be held on Jan 5, officials said on Tuesday.

The postponement follows the government’s announcement of three days of state mourning and a public holiday for Wednesday, the day of Khaleda's funeral prayers.

Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (DSHE) Board Examination Controller Prof SM Kamal Uddin Haider

said the decision was taken in line with the government’s measures.

“As state mourning has been declared and Wednesday is a public holiday, the exams scheduled for that day have been postponed,” he said.

The junior scholarship exam is based on the Grade 8 curriculum and covers Bangla, English, Mathematics, Science, and Bangladesh and Global Studies.

Bangla, English and Mathematics exams were held earlier in the week, while the remaining two subjects, which are taken together, have been rescheduled.

A total of 400 marks are allocated across the subjects, and scholarships are awarded under both talent pool and general categories based on results.

Khaleda died under hospital care on Tuesday morning after a prolonged illness. She was 79.The government announced the mourning period following an emergency meeting of the interim government's Advisory Council, with the decision later announced by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus in an address to the nation.