Waist-deep water, illness fears add to HSC examinees' ordeal 

Waist-deep water, inundated roads, relentless rain and severe traffic congestion turned today's (13 July) Higher Secondary Certificate and equivalent examinations into a gruelling ordeal for thousands of students under all education boards except Chattogram, raising concerns over their health, safety and mental well-being.

From early morning, students were seen wading through waterlogged streets to reach examination centres. Many arrived soaked, while others slipped on submerged roads in their rush to avoid being late. Similar scenes from Dhaka and other districts quickly spread across social media. 

For many examinees, the day's toughest test came before they even entered the examination hall.

Shahnaz Shanta, a sister of an examinee under the Dhaka Education Board, said her younger brother suffers from severe cold allergies and requires constant care.

"He cannot tolerate cold food or even cold water. Yet he had no choice but to leave home in heavy rain to sit for the exam," she said.

Shanta said the family expected authorities to postpone the examination after monitoring weather forecasts.  "If students fall ill and perform poorly in the remaining examinations, who will take responsibility?" she asked.

A guardian from the Cumilla Education Board, wishing not to be named, said students had to cross waist-deep water before sitting for the Physics first paper examination.

"It is difficult to describe the anxiety a mother feels watching her child leave for an exam under such conditions," the guardian said.

Parents alleged that the examination schedule failed to adequately consider the monsoon season and the country's realities, arguing that student safety should be given equal importance alongside academic assessment.

Urmi Akter Ema, a teacher at Dhaka Residential Model College, said postponing Sunday's examination would have been appropriate given the extreme weather.

"Students reached centres completely drenched after battling heavy rain and gridlocked roads. The education system should remain student-friendly and consider practical realities during emergencies," she said.

The conditions also affected school students sitting for examinations, intensifying questions over whether adequate consideration was given to examinees' physical safety and mental stress before holding examinations during severe weather.

Contacted, educationist Professor Mohammad Kaykobad said Bangladesh has witnessed automatic promotion several times in the past, and authorities should adopt realistic decisions when students face such severe hardship.

"Under these conditions, it is difficult to expect students to perform at their best," he said.

Arriving at examination centres in wet clothes or under adverse weather conditions can have both psychological and physical effects on students, Dr Eshita Biswas, Associate Professor at Dhaka National Medical College and Hospital, told The Business Standard.

Dr Eshita said such situations create additional mental stress for students, which can impair their ability to concentrate during examinations. She added that transport shortages caused by heavy rain, difficulty finding rickshaws or other vehicles, and the ordeal of travelling through waterlogged streets further heighten their anxiety.

She said many students are forced to remain in wet clothes for extended periods, causing discomfort, restlessness and anxiety that may prevent them from focusing properly on their exam papers.

She also warned that exposure to waterlogged environments increases the risk of diarrhoea, colds, coughs and various skin diseases, while prolonged contact with dirty or stagnant water raises the likelihood of skin infections. In addition, students face the risk of physical injuries from slipping or falling and snake bites while travelling through flooded areas.

This year, HSC and equivalent exams have begun on 2 July across the country. But due to the sudden flooding, all scheduled exams under Chattogram Education Board remain postponed over the past few days.