Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday directed the authorities concerned to hold public examinations in a shorter time to avert too much of talks and rumours over the exams.

She was addressing a function at the Gono Bhaban marking the handover and publication of this year's HSC and its equivalent examination results.

“You took too much time in taking the examinations. This year, the exams started on April 2 and ended on May 24. But you didn't take that much time in publishing the results,” she said, adding that it used to take only seven days to hold an examination during her student life.

Hasina, however, thanked the teachers and all others concerned for publishing the results within a short time.

She also appreciated this year's examination system calling it “very excellent”.

The PM thanked all concerned, particularly the education ministry, teachers, guardians, chairmen and staff members of the education boards, law enforcement and intelligence agencies for working sincerely to hold the examination properly.

“Question leak is not a problem in our country alone. This is seen in many countries at times,” she said, adding that there were some demerits of digitization alongside its merits.

Hasina said her government was giving more importance to technical education and vocational training, which would create employment scope for youths both at home and abroad.

“Our students are very meritorious, we have to utilise them,” she said, mentioning that the government was making efforts to improve the education system.

Pointing at the students, the PM said education is the most valuable treasure and no one can snatch it. “So, if you can acquire knowledge, you can build your lives beautifully.”

She urged students to be attentive to their studies and get good results.

Hasina suggested that the students should develop self-confidence to build themselves and the country as well. “You'll have to have self-confidence for being self-reliant, building yourselves and the country. You must have patriotism.”

She congratulated all the students who became successful. She urged the guardians not to scold their children who could not succeed in the exams. “Scolding them is not a solution. You rather identify the reasons behind their failure and remove the problems.”

The PM also asked the guardians, teachers, imams and other religious leaders to keep watch on the students so that they can't get involved in militancy, terrorism and drugs.

Earlier, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid along with the chairmen of all the education boards handed over the results to the premier around 10:10am. The PM unveiled the results digitally.

Hasina exchanged views with some students from Netrakona through videoconferencing.

State Minister for Madrasa and Technical Education Division Kazi Keramat Ali also spoke on the occasion.