Question sets for the upcoming Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations would be fixed by lottery 25 minutes prior to the tests to check question-paper leak.

"The question sets for the upcoming HSC and equivalent exams will be fixed 25 minutes before the exams. The Dhaka Education Board will select the sets by lottery," Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Md Sohrab Hossain said at a meeting with journalists at the ministry office yesterday.

Like Secondary School Certificate (SSC), the HSC examinees students have been asked to enter the examination centres 30 minutes prior to their respective exams, he added.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid conveyed the decision emerging from a meeting with law enforcers, relevant ministry officials, and education board representatives at the ministry's meeting room.

According to the decision, more than one sets of wrapped up question papers would be sent to the exam centres, Sohrab said, adding that stern action would be taken against those who would be found responsible for unwrapping the question papers before the time set.

The HSC and equivalent examinations of this year are scheduled to be held between April 2 and May 13.