Student Detained in Bogra for Impersonating Politician in Public University Examination

BOGRA — A college student was detained by law enforcement officials on Friday, 24 April 2026, after she was discovered impersonating a local political leader during an ongoing secondary school certificate examination. The incident occurred at the Bogra Zilla School centre during an 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 in Room 201 was Nipa Khatun, who holds the position of Joint General Secretary of the Bogra City unit of the Mohila Dal (the women’s wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party). Nipa Khatun is the spouse of Zaidul Islam, also a resident of the Chaksutrapur locality.

The discrepancy was identified during the routine verification process. As the invigilator proceeded to sign the answer scripts, they observed that the physical appearance of the individual sitting the exam 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 appearing as a proxy candidate for the registered examinee.

Legal and Procedural Response

Following the confession, 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, the student 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 authorities to contact the primary candidate, Nipa Khatun, have proved unsuccessful, and her whereabouts remain unknown.

Regulatory Context of Proxy Examinations

Under the Public Examinations (Offences) Act, 1980, impersonation in a public examination is a serious criminal offence in Bangladesh. If a formal case is lodged, both the proxy and the individual who solicited the service can face significant legal consequences, including imprisonment and fines. Furthermore, educational institutions like Government Azizul Huq College often initiate internal disciplinary measures, which can include the permanent expulsion of students involved in academic fraud.

The Bangladesh Open University (BOU) provides flexible learning opportunities primarily for adults and professionals who wish to complete their secondary and higher secondary education. However, the integrity of its certification process relies on strict adherence to identification protocols at regional centres like Bogra Zilla School.

Law enforcement officials have indicated that they are awaiting the formal documentation from the centre secretary and the district education officer to finalise the charges. This incident has raised concerns regarding the security of examination halls and the prevalence of proxy candidates within adult education programmes in the region.