United News of Bangladesh

Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Saturday said the government would not be distracted from its responsibilities by trolling or criticism, asserting that its priority is to ensure quality education for the nation. "Those who trolled me are not examinees. We did not see students from institutions like City College, Ideal College or Viqarunnisa taking part in the movement. A group of people tried to create havoc by misleading others," he said. "Whatever the trolling or criticism, no one will be able to divert us from our responsibilities. He made the remarks while addressing the inauguration ceremony of academic activities at Naogaon University as the chief guest at the Naogaon Sadar Upazila Auditorium. Earlier, he unveiled the nameplate of the university's temporary campus in the city's Barunkandi area. Referring to his previous tenure as state minister for education during the 2001-2006 BNP-led government, Milon said he had then served under former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia and is now serving under Tarique Rahman. "How can anyone think I would be instructed to tolerate wrongdoing? Certainly not. Everyone should remain committed to their duties. We must continue education and improve its quality," he said. Explaining the recent decision to delay the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination by one hour in Cumilla due to waterlogging, the minister said the step had been taken on humanitarian grounds in the interest of examinees. He also urged the media to act responsibly in preventing the spread of rumours about question paper leaks and criticised misleading campaigns on social media regarding the examination system. "Without examinations, it is not possible to properly assess merit or award certificates," he said. Describing Naogaon University's journey as a new opportunity for higher education, the minister said academic activities had begun with 80 students and that initiatives would be taken to shift the university to its permanent campus as soon as possible. He also stressed the need to establish an international-standard School of Agriculture at the university to meet local demands. The programme was chaired by Naogaon University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Hasanath Ali. Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives State Minister Mir Shahe Alam, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof Dr Mamun Ahmed, UGC member Prof Dr Abdullah Al Mamun, Rajshahi University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Faridul Islam, National University Vice-Chancellor Dr ASM Amanullah, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education Director Prof Dr Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel, lawmakers from Naogaon-2, Naogaon-3, Naogaon-4, Naogaon-5 and Naogaon-6 constituencies, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam and Superintendent of Police Mohammad Tarikul Islam, among others, attended the event. Naogaon University was established in 2023. In December 2025, the UGC approved the opening of two departments-  Law, and Accounting and Information Systems. Student admissions for the 2025-26 academic session have already been completed, and academic activities officially began with Saturday's inauguration.

Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Sunday placed the The Public Examinations (Offences) (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in Parliament, aiming to strengthen legal measures against question paper leaks, cheating, fake certificates and technology-driven examination offences. The bill was subsequently sent to the relevant parliamentary scrutiny committee for detailed examination, with the committee asked to submit its report within the next three working days. According to the objective of the Bill placed before the House, the existing The Public Examinations (Offences) Act, 1980 was enacted about 45 years ago to prevent malpractice in public examinations, including cheating, question leaks, fabrication of certificates and other irregularities. However, the Bill observed that the widespread use of technology and the growing trend of committing examination-related crimes through digital means have rendered several provisions of the existing law outdated. The proposed amendment seeks to ensure a fair and malpractice-free examination environment by bringing offences committed through digital systems and online platforms within the legal framework. The draft law received policy approval from the Cabinet on April 2, 2026. Following Cabinet directives, the draft underwent several rounds of revision, vetting and further amendments by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division and the Cabinet Division before receiving final Cabinet approval on June 18. One of the key features of the proposed legislation is the inclusion and definition of the term “Digital Manipulation” to cover unauthorised access to examination databases through cybercrime, as well as any form of digital tampering. The bill proposes a maximum punishment of five years’ imprisonment and fines for those found guilty of digital manipulation. It also provides for stricter penalties and financial sanctions against individuals or groups involved in organised examination fraud or the formation of criminal networks to facilitate such offences. The government said the amendment has become urgently necessary to address emerging challenges in safeguarding the integrity of public examinations in the digital age.

The government has taken a decision to cancel the lottery system for admission from Class 1 to Class 9 in public and private schools across the country, said Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Monday. He made the announcement at a press briefing at the meeting room of the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education. “We have decided that from the next academic year, 2027, all admissions will be conducted through an entrance test. It will not be a complicated test. We are not going to make a Class 1 student a neurosurgeon. Students will be admitted through a simple test,” he said. Responding to concerns that the return of admission tests might fuel coaching businesses and influence peddling, the minister said, “There will be no scope for coaching. The test will be simple and everything will be conducted in a normal, fair manner. Parents have no reason to worry. I believe no education system should rely on lottery-based admission.”

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Wednesday underscored the need to modernise and align technical and vocational education with market demands to transform Bangladesh’s vast population into a skilled workforce. “Technical and job-oriented education must be updated in line with contemporary needs and global labour market trends,” he said at a view-exchange meeting with officials at the conference room of the Directorate of Technical Education. “To strengthen the technical education system, we need to reinforce public-private partnerships, build stronger linkages between industry and academia, and modernise curricula and syllabuses,” he said. The minister said key performance indicators (KPIs) and other performance metrics of the technical education sector have been reviewed initially and  deeper analysis would be conducted to bring necessary reforms. The minister said there are gaps in public-private partnership, coordination between industries and educational institutions, and the formulation of market-driven curricula, which must be addressed promptly. Urging officials to take proactive initiatives, Milon said they should identify development priorities within their respective departments, projects and institutions and act with creativity and innovation instead of waiting for directives from the ministry. Describing the Education Ministry as one of the country’s most important ministries, Milon said, “It is from here that the nation’s human resources are developed. Building a skilled workforce for nearly 180 million people is a major responsibility.” If Bangladesh’s large population can be properly transformed into skilled human capital, it could become a key driver of the country’s economic and social development, he added. No auto-pass, stricter monitoring for SSC 2026: Minister Milon Milon said technical institutions including vocational and polytechnic institutes should prioritise hands-on and job-oriented training over excessive theoretical instruction. “A comprehensive review of curricula and training systems is necessary in this regard,” he added. He also stressed the importance of strengthening coordination with the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and other relevant bodies to expand opportunities for sending skilled workers to international labour markets. “While many developed countries are facing population decline, Bangladesh remains demographically strong. If we can convert this manpower into skilled human resources, Bangladesh can establish itself globally as a nation rich in skilled workforce,” Milon said. Calling for a departure from conventional work practices, Milon urged officials to work with renewed energy, enthusiasm and speed, setting clear goals and action plans in their respective areas. The minister also called for collective efforts from the technical education sector to help realise the employment generation target announced by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Sunday said teachers would no longer need to take to the streets to realise their legitimate demands, as the government is giving the highest priority to the education sector and will implement justified claims of teachers and employees in phases. Speaking at a views-exchange meeting with the Teachers-Employees Unity Council at the conference room of the Ministry of Education, the minister said although there are certain budgetary constraints, other demands of teachers will be placed before the Prime Minister. “As many issues could not be incorporated into the new budget, it is not possible to implement all demands immediately. However, the government is sincere in this regard,” he said. Referring to allegations raised against officials and employees of the ministry, Milon said the complaints would be reviewed and resolved gradually. “Discussions are also underway regarding school managing committees and governing bodies.” “The issue of not allowing one individual to hold responsibilities in multiple institutions will be considered at the managing committee level,” the minister said. On the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA), Milon said recent changes in the recruitment system would be reviewed and necessary decisions taken accordingly.  “We will assess where corrections are needed. The government is firm in its position – we neither engage in corruption nor allow it. Transparency and accountability will be ensured in the education sector,” he said. The minister also said meetings would soon be held to decide on financial matters, including retirement benefits and welfare trust issues. “Education is receiving the highest importance at the policy-making level of the current government. Education-related issues also received priority at the recent cabinet meeting.” State Minister for Education Bobby Hajjaj said the written demands submitted by teachers have been taken seriously. “Among the various demands, standing issues have been identified and initiatives taken for resolution. We do not want to take abrupt decisions. We seek long-term solutions through consultation so that teachers do not have to return to agitation over the same demands five or seven years later.” Highlighting teachers’ dignity, Hajjaj said proper evaluation of their responsibilities in classrooms would be ensured and the government is aware of the expectations of the teaching community. Chairman of the Teachers-Employees Unity Council and Cumilla-2 MP Selim Bhuiyan, along with other teacher leaders, were present at the meeting.