Education Minister Dismisses SSC Question Leak Claims as Groundless Rumours

The Education Minister, A. N. M. Ehsanul Hoque Milan, has categorically rejected allegations concerning the leakage of question papers for the ongoing Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations, terming the claims “entirely baseless” and a product of misinformation. In a formal communication issued on Saturday evening, 25 April 2026, the Minister further criticised the National Citizen Party (NCP) for disseminating statements regarding the matter without conducting necessary verifications, describing their actions as both “reprehensible and deeply disappointing.”

Ministerial Rebuttal and Criticism of the NCP

Minister Hoque Milan utilized his official social media platform to clarify the government’s stance on the controversy. He asserted that investigations conducted by relevant authorities have conclusively proven that no actual breach of the examination’s security protocols occurred.

The Minister’s statement was particularly pointed toward the National Citizen Party, a political entity that emerged following the 2024 mass uprising. He remarked:

“It has been proven beyond any doubt that the campaign regarding the alleged question paper leak is merely a rumour. Under such circumstances, the issuance of a statement by the NCP—a party born from the context of the ’24 uprising—concerning completely groundless propaganda without any form of fact-checking is not only reprehensible but also profoundly disappointing.”

The Ministry of Education has maintained that the integrity of the national examination system remains intact. Officials have urged students and guardians to remain focused on the remaining schedule and to refrain from engaging with unverified reports circulating on digital platforms.

Law Enforcement Action Against Fraudulent Syndicates

The Minister’s dismissal of the rumours coincides with a significant breakthrough by law enforcement agencies in identifying those responsible for the misinformation. Earlier on Saturday afternoon, the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) held a press briefing to address the situation.

Munshi Shahabuddin, the Joint Commissioner of the CTTC, informed members of the press that a specialised operation resulted in the detention of four individuals from various locations across the country. These individuals are alleged to be members of an organised syndicate that utilised social media platforms to defraud students and parents.

According to the CTTC’s preliminary findings, the syndicate operated through the following methods:

• Digital Propaganda: The group created numerous groups and pages on encrypted messaging apps and social media, claiming to possess authentic question papers for the ongoing SSC examinations.

• Financial Exploitation: By preying on the anxieties of candidates, the perpetrators successfully induced several victims to transfer significant sums of money via mobile financial services in exchange for “leaked” documents.

• Fabricated Content: The documents provided to the victims were subsequently found to be either previous years’ question papers or entirely fabricated sets that bore no resemblance to the actual examination materials.

Institutional Measures and Safeguards

The 2026 SSC examinations are being conducted under heightened security measures designed to prevent the very irregularities currently being alleged. The Ministry of Education has implemented a multi-layered distribution system, including the use of digital tracking for question paper trunks and the mandatory presence of executive magistrates during the unsealing process.

Educational analysts have noted that the persistence of such “leak” rumours often stems from the activities of cyber-criminals seeking quick financial gain rather than actual systemic failures. The detention of the four suspects by the CTTC is seen as a vital step in discouraging such fraudulent activities.

The Ministry of Education has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of transparency and security. Minister Hoque Milan concluded his address by reiterating that the state would take stern legal action against any individual or group found to be involved in spreading malicious rumours intended to destabilise the national education system or cause public distress. As of Saturday night, the SSC examinations are scheduled to proceed without any alteration to the previously announced timetable.