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Government Ends Practice of Inflating Pass Rates and GPA-5 Scores: Mahdi Amin

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  Government Ends Practice of Inflating Pass Rates and GPA-5 Scores: Mahdi Amin The government has moved away from the long-standing practice of artificially increasing examination pass rates and the number of GPA-5 achievers, Prime Minister's Adviser for Education and Primary and Mass Education Mahdi Amin said today. He said the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examination results now reflect a more transparent, objective and merit-based assessment of students. Mahdi Amin also announced that students who failed in one or two subjects would be given an opportunity to retake the examinations within a month. A comprehensive answer-script re-evaluation system, similar to the one used in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations, has also been introduced. He made the remarks at a press conference held at the Ministry of Education's conference room at the Secretariat. Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon formally announ...
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US Halts Immigrant Visa Appointments Worldwide

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US Halts Immigrant Visa Appointments Worldwide

The administration of US President Donald Trump has temporarily paused immigrant visa appointments around the world as part of its broader immigration crackdown during his second term in office.

A US State Department spokesperson said Tuesday that a global training programme had been launched at American embassies and consulates worldwide. Visa appointment schedules will be adjusted to accommodate the training, the spokesperson said.

The department did not provide details about the nature or duration of the training. It said the programme is intended to help consular officers identify applicants who may become dependent on US public benefits and to ensure that visa applications are assessed “comprehensively and consistently.”

Earlier, the Financial Times reported that applicants with scheduled immigrant visa interviews at US embassies and consulates had received emails informing them that their appointments were being rescheduled. The applicants were told that they would be notified later about new interview dates.

The latest move comes amid an aggressive immigration crackdown by the Trump administration. The government has pursued deportations and taken steps to revoke visas and green cards, while also rejecting applications on various grounds. In some cases, political views and participation in pro-Palestinian protests against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza have reportedly become factors in immigration decisions.

The Trump administration says the crackdown is necessary to strengthen national security and protect the country from potential threats.

However, several of the administration’s immigration policies have faced legal challenges. On Friday, a US judge struck down a policy that suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries, ruling that the measure exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s legal authority.

Human rights organisations have strongly criticised Trump’s immigration policies, describing some of the measures as discriminatory and arguing that they threaten free speech and due process rights.

Rights groups have also warned that the crackdown has created an increasingly hostile environment in the United States, particularly for ethnic minorities who fear racial profiling and discriminatory treatment.

Trump campaigned in 2024 on a promise to stop illegal immigration. Since returning to the White House, however, his administration has also introduced measures that make legal immigration more difficult and expensive, including new and higher fees for applicants seeking certain employment-based visas.

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