Dhaka: Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni said the government will take stern action against any evil attempt to leak question papers and forgery of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations which begins from on Saturday.

‘Strict and sharp surveillance are going on against the evil attempt to leak question papers. All concerned including law enforcement agencies are in active to resist the attempt,’ she told the reporters while visiting an exam centre at Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Government Secondary School in city’s Ashkona area.

Dipu Moni said her ministry is now on high alert to check the question paper leak and forgery. ‘I hope that no one will try to do any misdeed. Tough action will be taken if anyone found in question paper leaking incident.’

‘Today’s student is our future. We all want the examination to be held in a peaceful atmosphere. I call upon everyone to work towards holding the examinations in a free and fair manner,’ the minister said.

Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Sohrab Hossain and Secretary of Technical and Madrasa Education Division Md Alamgir, among others, were also present.

A total of 21,35,333 students from 28,682 educational institutions are appearing in the examination under eight general education boards. Of them, 10,70,441 students are male and 10,64,892 female.

Sources said of the total 17,00,102 students are participating in the SSC examination under eight general education boards. Of the students, 8,22,661 candidates are male and 8,77,441 female.

Some 3,10,172 students are appearing in the Dakhil examinations while 1,25,059 students in the SSC (vocational) examination.

In 2018, a total of 20,31,899 students, including 10,23,212 boys and 10,08,687 girls took part in the SSC and equivalent examinations.

A total of 434 students from eight overseas centres are appearing in the SSC examinations this year.