Murder Suspect Sits SSC Examination in Jail

A 15-year-old student, identified as Mahbub Elahi Rajin, has commenced his Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations for the 2026 academic session while in judicial custody in Noakhali. Despite his incarceration as an accused in a murder case, the student is participating in this significant national public examination under special legal provisions.

Legal Background and Examination Commencement

The examination process for Rajin began at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, 21 April, with the Bengali First Paper. Rajin is a resident of Kashipur village in the Noannoi Union of Noakhali Sadar Upazila and a student of Noannoi High School.

Following his involvement in a murder case, Rajin was initially detained at the Gazipur Juvenile Correction Centre (officially known as the Child Development Centre). To ensure he did not lose an academic year, a petition was filed requesting permission for him to sit the exams. Upon reviewing the application, the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court of Noakhali granted the necessary legal authorisation for him to appear for the examinations from jail.

Institutional Arrangements

Under the court’s special order, Rajin was transferred from the Gazipur facility to Noakhali District Jail specifically for the duration of the examinations. Although his officially designated examination centre is Noakhali Zilla School, security protocols and legal restrictions necessitate that he remains within the prison perimeters.

Consequently, a special examination hall has been established inside the jail. This satellite centre operates under the direct supervision of the Noakhali Zilla School centre authorities, ensuring that the examination follows the standard protocols set by the Education Board.

Official Statements

Abdul Barek, the Superintendent of Noakhali Jail, confirmed the logistical arrangements for the examinee. He stated that the accused was brought from the Gazipur Juvenile Correction Centre solely for the purpose of the SSC examinations. The Superintendent further noted that all subsequent subjects in the examination schedule would be administered within the jail following the same regulated procedure.

Examination Statistics for Noakhali District (2026)

The SSC and equivalent examinations are being conducted across the Noakhali district with a significant number of candidates. The following table provides a breakdown of the examinees for the 2026 session:

Educational Context and Regulatory Framework

The participation of incarcerated individuals in public examinations is a provision supported by the Bangladesh Jail Code and the Ministry of Education. This ensures that the fundamental right to education is preserved for individuals whose cases are still pending trial.

In this instance, the 15-year-old candidate is one of 35,501 students appearing for the exams across 75 centres in Noakhali. The coordination between the judicial system, the prison directorate, and the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education remains essential to facilitate such arrangements. The exams are conducted under the supervision of appointed invigilators to maintain the integrity of the public examination system, despite the atypical venue.