BOGRA — A college student was detained by law enforcement officials on Friday, 24 April 2026, after she was discovered impersonating a local political figure during a public examination. The incident occurred at the Bogra Zilla School centre during an ongoing Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination conducted under the auspices of the Bangladesh Open University (BOU).
The individual in custody has been identified as Ishita Akter Tisha, aged 18. She is a second-year Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) student at Bogra Government Azizul Huq College and the daughter of Jiban Sheikh, a resident of the Chaksutrapur area in Bogra city.
Circumstances of the Impersonation
According to police reports and examination centre officials, the scheduled examination for the Bengali Second Paper of the BOU SSC (Second Year) programme commenced at 2:00 pm on Friday. The registered candidate for the examination, designated to sit in Room 201, was Nipa Khatun.
Nipa Khatun holds the political office of Joint General Secretary of the Bogra City unit of the Mohila Dal (the women’s wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party). She is the spouse of Zaidul Islam, also a resident of the Chaksutrapur locality. However, it was discovered that Ishita Akter Tisha, a neighbour and relative, had appeared to sit the examination in her stead.
The discrepancy was identified during the routine verification process by the invigilator. Whilst proceeding to sign the answer scripts, the official observed that the physical appearance of the individual sitting the examination did not correspond with the photograph provided on the official admit card. Upon being questioned by the centre authorities, the student reportedly confessed to her true identity and admitted to acting as a proxy candidate for the registered examinee.
Legal and Procedural Response
Following the admission, the centre management notified local law enforcement, and the student was subsequently handed over to the police. Ibrahim Ali, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bogra Sadar Police Station, confirmed that the student is currently being held in police custody pending further investigation.
During initial interrogation, Ishita Akter Tisha stated that Nipa Khatun is her maternal aunt. She claimed that she agreed to participate in the examination on behalf of the politician due to their close familial relationship. OC Ibrahim Ali further clarified the legal standing of the case:
“The detained student remains in police custody. She has informed investigators that Nipa Khatun is her aunt and that she sat the examination based on that familial link. Legal proceedings will be formally initiated once a written complaint is submitted by the relevant examination authorities.”
As of Friday evening, attempts by journalists and local authorities to contact the primary candidate, Nipa Khatun, have proved unsuccessful. Her whereabouts remain unknown, and she has not issued a statement regarding the incident.
Regulatory Context and Statutory Penalties
Under the Public Examinations (Offences) Act, 1980, impersonation in a public examination is classified as a serious criminal offence in Bangladesh. If a formal case is lodged, both the proxy candidate and the individual who solicited the fraudulent service can face significant legal consequences, including custodial sentences and substantial fines.
Furthermore, educational institutions such as Government Azizul Huq College typically initiate internal disciplinary measures in such instances. These can result in the permanent expulsion of students involved in academic fraud, effectively terminating their formal education.
The Bangladesh Open University (BOU) provides flexible learning opportunities primarily for adults and professionals. However, the integrity of its certification process relies on the strict application of identification protocols at regional centres. Centre officials at Bogra Zilla School have noted that security measures will be further tightened for the remaining duration of the examination schedule.
Law enforcement officials have indicated that they are awaiting formal documentation from the centre secretary and the district education officer to finalise the charges. This incident has raised significant concerns regarding the security of examination halls and the ethics of public officials seeking academic qualifications through fraudulent means.