Dhaka: Some 8,520 students were absent on the first day as the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent examinations of 2017 began across Bangladesh on Thursday.

A total of 16 students were also expelled for adopting unfair means in the examinations.

This year, 1,644,130 students are appearing in the examinations at 3,228 centres.

Of them, 1,314,695 are sitting for the SSC examinations under eight general education boards while 236,333 in Dakhil under Madrasah Education Board and 93,102 in vocational exam under Bangladesh Technical Education Board.

This year, the SSC examinations are being held under creative question papers except Bangla 2nd paper, English 1st and 2nd papers.

The written examinations will end on March 2, while the practical ones will be held from March 4 to March 11.