Dhaka: The British Council offices remain temporarily closed in Bangladesh. However they are running their operations remotely and plan to continue all operations and services across the country. They hope to reopen offices and resume normal services to the public as soon as possible.

In Bangladesh, the British Council conducts over 100,000 exams annually. They would like to assure their partner English medium schools, parents and all O Level and A Level candidates (Cambridge International Examinations and Pearson Edexcel) that the exams will take place on time, as scheduled. They are working on to deliver the exams services to the students who are the future leaders of Bangladesh. The British Council recognises the importance of these services to the young people and take this responsibility very seriously.

The registration deadline for the Cambridge International Examinations in November 2016 session has been extended to 10 August 2016. School candidates are requested to contact their school for a unique school candidate registration link. Private candidates can apply through the website www.britishcouncil.org.bd. This is for all the candidates from Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Dinajpur, Rajshahi, and Khulna.

IELTS registration dates are still open for August and September 2016. IELTS candidates are requested to register online at ielts.britishcouncil.org. IELTS results will be issued on the result day as per schedule. Candidates in all in five cities—Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi and Khulna—can take the exam. All students are advised to contact the Customer Services for any post-test service.

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is the world’s most popular English language test. More than two million IELTS tests are taken each year. Taking IELTS opens doors – it can help you live, study and work around the world. More than 9,000 organisations in 140 countries accept IELTS, including government, academic and employment institutions. IELTS is the only English language test accepted for immigration purposes by all countries that require one.

• The IELTS registration in the month of August 2016 is open for 13, 20 and 27 in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet and 20 August in Khulna. In September 2016, candidates can register for IELTS on 3, 15 and 24 September for Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet and 24 September in Rajshahi.

• IELTS UKVI test dates in August 2016 are 4 and 20 and in September 2016 are 3 and 24, to be held in Dhaka and Sylhet only. 

• IELTS Life Skills dates are 11, 13, 14, 25 and 28 in August 2016 and 8, 11, 22, 24, and 25 in September 2016, to be held in Dhaka and Sylhet only.

During the temporary closure, the Customer Services of the British Council will be responding to queries through email (bd.enquiries@britishcouncil.org), Live Chat (through website www.britishcouncil.org.bd), Facebook (BritishCouncilBangladesh), and telephone (+88 09666773377) in the usual office hours.

Along with the Examinations services, the British Council is also running all corporate English courses and workshops as per schedule. Their Active Citizens Youth Leadership Training programme is also running smoothly. A pre-departure briefing is also scheduled on 7 August 2016 for three winners of Manchester University Equity and Merit Scholarship 2016 who will leave for the UK to pursue their Masters studies starting from September 2016.

For further information please contact:

Arshia Aziz, Head of Marketing and Communications, British Council, Bangladesh.

Email: Arshia.Aziz@bd.britishcouncil.org

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We create international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and build trust between them worldwide. We work in more than 110 countries and our 8000 staff – including 2000 teachers – work with thousands of professionals and policy makers and millions of young people every year by teaching English, sharing the Arts and delivering education and society programmes. For more information, please visit: www.britishcouncil.org.bd