A young man has been sentenced to one year of simple imprisonment after being caught attempting to sit a public examination on behalf of another candidate at a secondary school examination centre in Uzirpur Upazila, Barishal district. The incident triggered widespread concern among students, parents, and education officials, reigniting debate over examination security and malpractice prevention.
The accused, Md. Tafsir Islam (19), son of Liaquat Sikder from the Hatisunda area under Bamrail Union, was apprehended on Tuesday (28 April) at the Dhamura Secondary School examination centre. He was found taking part in a Class X public examination impersonating another registered candidate.
According to officials, suspicion arose shortly after he entered the examination hall due to inconsistencies in his behaviour and discrepancies during identity verification procedures. Examination authorities carried out further checks, including scrutiny of attendance records and identification documents. These checks eventually confirmed that he was not the legitimate candidate but an impersonator, commonly referred to as a proxy examinee.
Following confirmation, he was immediately detained and handed over to the local administration. A mobile court was subsequently convened on-site by the Upazila administration to address the offence. After summary proceedings, the court found him guilty under the Public Examinations (Offences) Act, 1980 (as amended in 1989). He was sentenced to one year of simple imprisonment along with a monetary penalty.
The Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Uzirpur Upazila, Md. Maheshwar Mandal, stated that any form of irregularity or malpractice in public examinations would not be tolerated. He further emphasised that strict legal action would continue to be taken in order to safeguard transparency and discipline within the education system.
The incident has sparked concern locally, with students, guardians, and residents expressing unease over the integrity of examination procedures. Many believe that such malpractice undermines the fairness of academic evaluation and damages trust in the education system.
In response, examination centre officials have indicated that security and identity verification measures will be further strengthened in future examinations to prevent recurrence of similar incidents.
Summary of the Incident
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Dhamura Secondary School, Uzirpur |
| Examination Type | Secondary School Public Examination (Class X) |
| Accused | Md. Tafsir Islam (19) |
| Allegation | Impersonation in examination (proxy candidate) |
| Legal Basis | Public Examinations (Offences) Act, 1980 (Amended 1989) |
| Sentence | 1 year simple imprisonment and fine |
| Action Authority | Mobile Court, Upazila Administration |
The case serves as a reminder of the authorities’ strict stance against examination fraud, reinforcing a zero-tolerance approach aimed at preserving fairness and credibility in the national education system.