Hundreds of examinees faced difficulties on the very first day of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent examinations as they were provided with the wrong question papers. Examinees in several centres across the country complained that question papers for irregular students had been mistakenly given to regular students and vice versa owing to the mismanagement and irresponsibility on the part of the officials concerned.

Invigilators learned about the mistake 30-40 minutes after the exam began. In many centres, question papers were then correctly interchanged while in some others students had to answer the wrong question papers.

Mirpur Government Bangla High School and Nawabpur Government High School in Dhaka, Jinjira PM Pilot High School in Keraniganj and many centres in Chandpur, Kurigram, Bhola, Rangpur, Shariatpur and Srimongol have witnessed such a situation.

Sumaiya Sultana of Sher-e-Bangla Girls School and College in Tikatuli, who is taking the SSC exams from Nawabpur Government High School centre, said 35 minutes into the Bangla first paper exam, the invigilators had warned her that she was answering a question paper meant for irregular students of2011.

The teachers then changed the question paper and extended her examination time by 30 minutes.

In Rangpur, students of around 50 educational institutions, whose exams centre is Rangpur Zila School, had to answer wrong question papers even after repeated requests for change, reports our Rangpur Correspondent.

Prof Fahima Khatun, chairman of Dhaka Education Board, told The Daily Star that in most cases question papers had been changed and students had been given extra time.

“Yet, wherever the problem remains our decision is that the evaluation will be on the basis of the question papers they have answered,” she said, adding that they would take a decision which in no way would harm students.

“I don't know how the centre secretaries made the mistake. We would take stern action against the people responsible."

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said necessary actions would be taken against the people responsible.

The education ministry directed the chairmen of all education boards to probe the matter and submit a report soon.

Many examinees in and outside the city, meanwhile, alleged that it had been a big hassle for them to get admit cards. Some got their admit cards one night before the examination while some got them yesterday morning, causing them to be late for the first examination.

Ten education boards, including madrasa and technical boards, are conducting the month-long SSC, Dakliil and SSC vocational examinations with around 14.20 lakh participants.