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in private tuition for my child, only to have the exams disrupted by the strike. It’s shameful to hold students’ futures hostage to fulfil demands.”

In Jhenidah, only 446 of 908 schools conducted exams, confirmed Md Amjad Hossain, assistant primary education officer.

Meanwhile, 479 of 805 primary schools in Kushtia held exams.

District Primary Education Officer Mofizul Islam said exams were conducted in schools with headteachers present. However, 326 schools had to suspend assessments.

Saidul Islam, acting headteacher of Swastipur Government Primary School, said, “Once our demands are met, we’ll hold the exams on time.”

In Rajshahi, exams proceeded in most schools with the help of headteachers, office staffers, and guardians.

Md Ashraful Islam, assistant primary education officer in the district, said that after some initial disruptions, exams were conducted smoothly.

However, several teachers, including Farjana Rahman of Railway Government Primary School, expressed frustration over conducting exams with little workforce. “Our demands are legitimate, and the government should resolve these issues quickly.”

In Sylhet, all 5,054 primary schools held exams, with support from assistant teachers and other staffers.

Similarly, in Tangail, all 1,623 primary schools conducted exams with support from local communities, confirmed District Primary Education Officer Md Sahab Uddin.

In Mymensingh, 1,840 of 2,140 primary schools held exams with guardians’ help. Md Obaidullah, district primary education officer, said headteachers of those schools coordinated with guardians to ensure exams continued.

In Gaibandha, all 1,463 primary schools held exams with support from local authorities. District Primary Education Officer Lakshman Kumar Das said exams proceeded smoothly with help from the upazila nirbahi officer and assistant commissioner (Land).

In Bogura, exams were held in all 1,603 primary schools.

Md Rezwan Hossain, district primary officer, said, “Local communities stepped in to ensure exams went ahead. However, in Dupchanchia Model Primary School, guardians reacted aggressively when teachers refused to take the exams. The situation was later resolved through discussions.”

Guardian Masud Parvez, whose child is a fifth-grader, said, “The children are not able to sit for their exams properly, which is harming them. The government should quickly resolve this issue, or the students will suffer long-term effects.”

In Kishoreganj, 390 of 1,327 primary schools could not hold exams. District Primary Education Officer Mojib Alam said officials and guardians helped maintain the schedule in the other schools, though parents expressed anger over the disruptions.

In Chattogram, Narayanganj, and Munshiganj, all primary schools held exams as scheduled.

MINISTRY’S WARNING

In its warning issued yesterday, the primary and mass education ministry urged striking teachers to resume duties immediately and ensure timely completion of exams.

While acknowledging teachers’ concerns, it stressed that disruptions to students’ education are unacceptable.

The statement further said that despite measures taken, several teachers’ organisations have continued to disrupt exams. “In some cases, teachers willing to conduct exams have been physically assaulted. Such actions, which jeopardise students’ education, are in violation of government service laws, conduct regulations, and criminal law.”

Meanwhile, leaders of the protesting teachers last night declared that the ongoing “complete shutdown” across the country will continue indefinitely until their demands are met.

The announcement came in a joint press release issued by the Prathomik Shikkhok Dabi Bastobayon Parishad and the Bangladesh Prathomik Sahakari Shikkhok Sangathan Oikya Parishad.

The teachers’ three-point demand includes raising the pay scale to grade 10, resolving complexities in obtaining higher grades after 10 and 16 years, and ensuring 100 percent departmental promotion to headteacher posts.

Teachers’ current salaries start at Grade 13. There are over 65,000 government primary schools, with more than 1 crore students.