All preparations for this year's Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations under the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Rajshahi, are in the final stage.

This time, the exams will be held simultaneously at a total of 208 centers across the 8 districts of the division. 

The education board authorities have already finalized and published the list of centers. The HSC and equivalent written examinations will begin on July 2 (Thursday) and continue until August 8. The practical exams will begin afterward. 

Zahirul Haque, Assistant Controller of Examinations (Confidential) of the Rajshahi Education Board, confirmed this information. 

He said that all administrative preparations have been completed with the aim of conducting this year's HSC examinations in a fair, cheating-free, and peaceful environment. 

There will be strict monitoring at the examination centers to maintain law and order and to prevent malpractices such as question paper leaks. 

According to board sources, among the 8 districts of the division, the highest number of exam centers is in the divisional city of Rajshahi, and the lowest is in Joypurhat. 

There are 43 centers in Rajshahi, 33 in Bogura, 31 in Sirajganj, 28 in Pabna, 25 in Naogaon, 20 in Natore, 15 in Chapainawabganj, and 12 in Joypurhat. 

To conduct the exams smoothly, the education board will begin distributing all necessary materials and answer scripts center-wise from June 11. 

The officers in charge of the respective centers will collect these materials from the board. 

Board officials said examinees must enter the centers 30 minutes before the start of the exam. 

Coordination has been made with the district and upazila administrations to avoid any untoward incidents at the centers and to ensure round-the-clock supervision by vigilance teams. 

Special security measures are being taken especially for the transportation and protection of question papers to centers in remote areas. 

Zahirul Haque said, "We are determined to complete the examinations in a beautiful and festive environment. With the cooperation of examinees, teachers, and guardians, the Rajshahi Board will be able to successfully complete the examinations this year as well, like every year."

It is worth noting that every year, a large number of female students in the Rajshahi Education Board achieve good results in terms of both the number of examinees and the pass rate. 

The board authorities will publish a full notification with the final statistics of examinees within this week.