The Higher Secondary Certificate and its equivalent examinations started on Thursday across Bangladesh.

While wearing masks has been made mandatory for all candidates and staff during the examinations and gathering near the exam centres had been discouraged amid a surge in Covid cases nationwide, large violation of these directives have been seen on the first day.

In the capital, some candidates were seen without masks while many guardians were seen without masks on roads.

A huge number of guardians were also seen gathered in front of different centres after dropping off their children.

Similar situation was seen at different exam centres in different districts also.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Tuesday issued a set of directives, saying that no vehicles would be allowed to be parked near the centres and urged the guardians not to stay on the roads near the centres.

On Thursday, the Bangla first paper exam started at 10:00am across the country.

This year, 12.51 lakh students are sitting for the examinations under 11 education boards and in 2,797 centres across the country.

Of the boards, nine are general education boards, one madrassah education board and one technical education board.

All the coaching centres across the country will remain closed between June 20 and August 15 as a measure to prevent leaking of question papers.

The HSC and its equivalent examinations are scheduled to be concluded by August 21.

The theoretical part of the HSC and its equivalent examinations will be held from June 26 to August 10 and the practical part from August 11 to August 21.