The Ministry of Education is set to implement an unprecedented crackdown on cheating and irregularities in the upcoming SSC, HSC, and equivalent examinations.

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milan announced a “zero-tolerance” policy on Thursday to ensure a transparent and fair environment for students.

Under the new directives, the ministry will install CCTV cameras in all high-risk exam centres to enable live monitoring from a central control room. “We plan to eventually make CCTV cameras mandatory for every centre across the country,” Milan said. He further warned that his team would conduct “helicopter missions” to perform surprise inspections at any venue at a moment’s notice.

The minister, who earned the nickname “Cheating Crusader” during his tenure as deputy minister from 2001 to 2006, stated that this year’s exams would be entirely free from question leaks. He confirmed that the ministry has already abolished 292 “venue centres”—subsidiary sites often prone to local influence—to simplify oversight.

“Students will receive marks based solely on what they write. We will not allow any ‘grace marks’ or undeserved empathy,” the minister asserted. He added that departmental action would be taken not only against students but also against any presiding officials if they prove misconduct at a centre.

Prof SM Kamal Uddin Hyder, Examination Controller of the Dhaka Education Board, noted that question papers have already reached district levels in tamper-proof, foil-packed security envelopes. To maintain neutrality, the board has prohibited teachers from entering halls where their own students are testing.

The upcoming SSC examinations, the first major academic event since the new BNP-led government took office, are scheduled to begin on 21 April.