50 SSC answer scripts found abandoned on school field in Thakurgaon

Fifty answer scripts from the ongoing Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations were recovered from a school field in Thakurgaon, triggering concern and raising questions over exam paper handling and security.

The answer sheets were recovered on Thursday (May 14) evening from the northeastern corner of the main field of Thakurgaon Government Boys' High School, near the Shaheed Minar.

Witnesses said a group of youths noticed a bundle lying on the field while walking through the area. After inspecting it, they realised the papers were SSC examination answer scripts and informed police.

Officers from Thakurgaon Sadar Police Station later recovered the bundle and took it into custody.

Authorities said the recovered papers belonged to the Bangladesh and Global Studies examination held on May 5.

School headmaster and exam centre secretary Motaharul Alam said the answer scripts were sent from the exam centre to the board authorities and later distributed among teachers for evaluation. He suspected the bundle may have accidentally fallen while being transported home by a teacher.

However, he acknowledged that the responsible individual should have been more careful in handling the scripts.

Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Monir Hossain said police secured the answer sheets immediately after receiving the information and are currently keeping them in official custody.

Meanwhile, the district administration has ordered an investigation into the incident. Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education) Sardar Mostafa Shaheen said authorities are examining how the answer scripts ended up on the field and who was responsible at the time.