Zero passes, twice in a row

At an institution in Narail, 35 candidates appeared in last year’s HSC examinations. None passed. This year, 43 candidates sat for the examinations. Again, not a single student passed.

Makrail Karim Khalek Solaiman Institution in Lohagara upazila is not an isolated case.

A preliminary comparison of the 2025 and 2026 results by The Daily Star identified 32 institutions that appear to have recorded zero passes for two consecutive years.

Of these, 19 were under Dinajpur Board, five under Jashore, four under Cumilla, two under Barishal and one each under Chattogram and Mymensingh.

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon yesterday directed officials to take steps within a week to hold institutions with zero or exceptionally low pass rates accountable, according to a post on his verified Facebook account.

A day earlier, he said the government was considering merging poorly performing colleges with nearby institutions, many of which had been established without sufficient demand.

Across the country’s 11 education boards, 293 institutions recorded zero passes this year, up from 202 last year. Of these, 181 were under the nine general boards.

Dinajpur Board had the highest number of zero-pass institutions among the general boards, with 49 this year, up from 43 last year.

At Char Shoulmari Adorsho Mohila College in Kurigram, all 15 candidates failed last year and all 24 this year. At Kabiraj Hat College in Dinajpur, the figures were 10 and eight.

Under Jashore Board, the number of zero-pass institutions fell from 20 to 16, but five appeared on both years’ lists.

At Buzruk Sreekundi College in Magura, eight candidates failed last year and 15 this year. At Kapilmuni Sahachari Vidyamandir in Khulna’s Paikgachha, the figures were five and three.

Islamia Mohila College in Satkhira and Model Mohila College in Khulna were also repeat cases.

Under Cumilla Board, four institutions appeared on both lists, including Cambridge City College and Torabganj High School and College in Lakshmipur. At Cambridge City, four candidates failed last year and one this year. At Torabganj, the figures were four and two.

Under Barishal Board, Medua College in Bhola and Auliapur Sabina Akter High School and College in Patuakhali appeared on both lists. Five of Medua’s seven registered candidates sat this year’s examinations, but none passed.

Both candidates at Meron Sun College in Chattogram’s Chandgaon failed this year, as in 2025.

Some institutions had only one or two examinees.

Under Rajshahi Board, at least 31 of the 39 zero-pass institutions had 10 or fewer examinees. Seven had one candidate each and six had two.

Rajshahi Commerce College and Bholahat College had one examinee each, while Sarkutia School and College in Natore had two. None passed.

Under Jashore Board, Jagannathpur Ideal College in Kushtia and Morka Jagoron College in Meherpur had one examinee each, while Gopinathpur MA Khaleque School and College in Magura had two. All failed.

Others had considerably more examinees. All 49 candidates from AK Fazlul Haque MCA College in Satkhira and all 27 from Koyra Shakbaria School and College in Khulna failed.

At Majidbaria College in Patuakhali’s Mirzaganj, the sole examinee failed. Established in 2002, the college has eight teachers and holds classes in dilapidated tin-shed rooms.

Principal Faruk Mallik said the college had yet to secure monthly pay order enlistment, while poor infrastructure had contributed to low enrolment.

At Kadbhanu Memorial Secondary Girls’ School and College in Barguna’s Betagi, neither of the two examinees passed.

Principal Shamima Nasrin said admissions to its higher secondary section had been suspended after 2024 due to a classroom shortage. The institution had applied to close the college section.

Assistant Headmaster Saiful Islam said many students now enrolled at another college established nearby.

The figures refer to HSC examinees, not total enrolment, which may include Class XI students and pupils in school sections.

Jashore Board Secretary Prof Abdul Matin said show-cause notices had been issued to heads of zero-pass institutions last year. Fresh notices would follow this year’s results, he said.

Dinajpur Board Secretary Prof Nur Abdur Razzaq said principals of zero-pass colleges would be summoned to explain their results. The board might recommend cancellation of their registration.

Barishal Board Examination Controller Sharif Morshed Reza said some institutions had been established under political influence despite insufficient demand, leaving them struggling to attract students.