In Magura, academic activities at Magura Ideal College, including honours and all year groups, have been suspended for one and a half months to facilitate arrangements for 63 Dakhil examination candidates, prompting dissatisfaction among students and guardians.
The college will remain closed until 4 June. The decision has affected around 1,800 students enrolled at the institution, according to local stakeholders.
Examination Context
Information gathered indicates that a total of 1,704 Dakhil candidates from four upazilas in the district are participating in this year’s examinations. Examination centres have been allocated across the district as follows:
| Upazila | Number of Centres | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shreepur | 1 | — |
| Magura Sadar | 2 | — |
| Shalikha | 2 | — |
| Mohammadpur | 2 | — |
| Total | — | 1,704 examinees |
It is further reported that, in Magura Sadar upazila, 17 madrasas traditionally have their Dakhil candidates assigned to Siddiqia Kamil Madrasa, while candidates from seven other madrasas are assigned to Beroil Darul Huda Fazil Madrasa.
However, this year, due to the absence of an arrangement allowing students to sit examinations at their own institution, 63 students from Siddiqia Kamil Madrasa have been assigned to the more distant Beroil centre. As a result, Magura Ideal College has been designated as an alternative examination centre, leading to the suspension of regular classes.
Reactions from Students and Guardians
The decision to close the college has drawn criticism from students and guardians. A first-year humanities student, Rima Biswas, stated that academic sessions at the college are already limited, and the closure of the institution for a school-level examination arrangement has been viewed as unreasonable by students.
Several guardians, including Abdul Alim, Oliar Rahman and Fasiar Rahman, expressed similar concerns regarding the decision.
Fasiar Rahman remarked that while several educational institutions are often closed during public examinations such as SSC and Dakhil, converting a functioning college into an examination centre while suspending its academic activities is not justified.
Oliar Rahman added that attention is often given to administrative positions within college management committees, whereas the continuity of academic activities receives less priority.
A member of the college management committee, Alamgir Hossain, stated that he was not aware of any formal decision taken by the college committee regarding the suspension of classes for the examination centre. He further suggested that an alternative arrangement using an already closed institution could have been more appropriate.
Administrative Statements
The examination centre secretary, also the principal of Siddiqia Kamil Madrasa, stated that a total of 375 candidates are sitting for the examination at the centre, including 63 from his own madrasa. He further explained that students were not permitted to sit examinations at their own institution, and proposals for alternative centres—including four institutions, among them two closed schools in the town—were submitted to the district administration. Magura Ideal College was ultimately selected.
Repeated attempts to contact the Deputy Commissioner were unsuccessful as he was reportedly engaged in a virtual meeting. However, the Additional Deputy Commissioner stated that teachers from the relevant college were present during the preparatory meeting and that the decision to establish the centre at the college was taken based on that meeting.
The principal of Magura Ideal College, Kabiar Rahman, stated that although objections were raised by teachers and guardians, the District Commissioner—who also serves as the chair of the college governing body—considered this arrangement the most suitable option.