The government has postponed the upcoming Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent exams, scheduled on April 1, amid concerns over the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Sources in the Education Boards said revised dates of the exams would be published later.

The government has taken the decision following growing concerns among the examinees and their guardians over the spread of the coronavirus, which has claimed two lives in the country so far.

The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka, yesterday, in a notice signed by its examination controller Prof, SM Amirul Islam, said: “The HSC exams of 2020 have been postponed due to unavoidable reasons.

The new routine would be published later.” Before the postponement of the public exams, the education ministry had on March 16 directed the closure of all educational institutions and coaching centres from March 18 to March 31. It had also requested guardians to ensure that students stayed at home to avert the chances of being infected by COVID-19.

Dhaka Board chairman M Ziaul Haque told The Independent yesterday: “The HSC exams have been postponed amid the evolving situation. We don’t want to risk the lives of students.”